Understanding of food nutrition

Learning about our foods nutrition and diets can be very enlightening. Things we were taught as children may in fact of reality be much different than what we were taught.

Learning about diet nutrition physique isn't all that difficult any longer. The truth of the matter is what should you do about your overall health and well being? If you're concerned about you weight and physique then a little different twist on things are in order. The question at the core of most nutrition challenges is understanding the actual problem not the symptoms. Lack of the proper nutrients in the food chain can be dealt with by simply using quality supplements and digging a little deeper learning more about diet nutrition physique.

Getting started is simple. A good understanding of food nutrition and how to use will be extremely rewarding for anyone. We can all prevent disease and fight infection.

Using nutrition and supplementing your diet is the key to fat loss and muscle gain. Whether you are at your goal weight or striving to reach your goal weight supplementation is essential, especially protein.

food nutrition : Good food nutrition

A healthy and energetic body is the result of a well-balanced diet.

It is important to be aware of your food nutrient requirements, which include vitamins, proteins, minerals, carbohydrates and fiber. A diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, and vegetables oils, and that includes low-fat dairy, and lean poultry and meat.

Take oat based cereal and some fruits, milk and orange juice for breakfast So, I got my whole grains, protein and fiber.

The soy bean is the only complete protein from a vegetable source, with all the amino acids. Soy bean is good for cancer disease.

Get the most food nutrition out of your calories. Choose the most nutritionally rich foods you can from each food group each day.

food nutrition : Healthy Restaurant Eating

America has been called a ‘fast food nation,' and for good reason. Everyday, one out of four Americans eats fast food. Most do it for the convenience – lack of time leads many people to the drive thru, and money plays a part as well. If you are eating out, fast food restaurants are often the cheapest option. Unfortunately, fast food restaurants are not the most nutritious option. Generally, fast food meals are higher in calories, sodium and fat, and often lacking in important vitamins and minerals. Until recently, french fries were the only vegetable option at many fast food restaurants. By most standards, it is a stretch to call fast food french fries a vegetable. Restaurant dining poses similar challenges. Restaurant meals also tend to include too much fat, salt, or sugar, and portions are almost always larger than normal.

While fast food restaurants may not offer the healthiest options, most people find themselves eating fast food from time to time. How can you make the most of your fast food meal? For that matter, how can you make the most of any restaurant meal? The good news is that many restaurants, fast food and sit-down, are adding healthier menu options. It is now possible to eat a fairly nutritious meal on the go. Keep in mind portion control (no super sizing), high fat and calorie sauces and dressings (eliminate them or take them on the side and use sparingly), and sodas (drink water or low fat milk). Making good choices when you are eating out will help you maintain a healthy diet. Knowing what types of menu items are healthier than others can help limit temptation and will also help you encourage your children and grandchildren to make healthy choices as well.

What are some healthy fast food choices?
Fast food restaurants have added many new healthy options. Most fast food restaurants and restaurant chains post nutritional information about their food offerings on their web sites. Visit some of the sites to determine your choices are. If you decide what you can and should order before you arrive, it will make it easier to avoid the less nutritious, higher calorie options. Also, pay attention to changes in the menu and new offerings because many restaurants are finally starting to pay attention to the demand for healthy options. Many restaurants try new items out before they add them to the menu permanently.

When choosing, be aware of highly caloric additions such as salad dressings, cheese, sour cream, etc. Sometimes, making your choice healthier is as simple as removing the condiments. For example, ask for a grilled chicken sandwich without the mayonnaise. Many restaurants are making progress and offering alternatives like salads with low calorie, fat free dressings, or grilled chicken sandwiches on whole wheat rolls, but if they don't, see what you can do to make your choice more nutritious and less fattening.
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food nutrition : Diet and Exercise

FRIDAY, July 28 (HealthDay News) -- You can take every pill and rue your parents for passing on their genes, but if you want to live long and well there are two things you must do -- eat right and exercise.

And while there are no guarantees in life, adopting these healthy pursuits can enhance your chances of vitality as you reach your 60s, 70s, 80s -- and beyond, experts say.

But a new report by the nonprofit Center for the Advancement of Health says that's not always easy for older people in a society that has built its streets for drivers, not walkers, and put convenience -- think fast foods -- for the young over possibilities for the old.

With 35 million Americans aged 65 and older -- a number expected to double during the next 25 years -- seniors and government must both make healthy choices, said Nancy Whitelaw, director of the National Council on the Aging's Center for Healthy Aging, which funded the report.

When it comes to nutrition and activity, "people know the message," she said. "The challenge is to make it operational in our daily lives."

People who get regular exercise, eat healthfully and avoid tobacco have a lower risk of chronic diseases that lead to premature death, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain cancers. They also have reduced rates of disability, better mental health and cognitive function, and lower health costs.

Conversely, individuals who are physically inactive are almost twice as likely to develop heart disease as active people, according to the report. Inactivity is also linked to the development of diabetes and colon cancer, and can result in loss of muscle strength and mass, which can lead to frailty and lethal falls.

Yet, approximately one-third of persons age 65 or older have not engaged in any leisure-time physical activity within the past month, including the majority of those over the age of 75, according to the study.

Just 30 minutes of activity five days a week can make the difference, said Whitelaw. The idea is to get your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes, and participate in activities that build balance, strength and flexibility. Recommended exercises include walking, swimming and bicycling. Doctors also endorse strength training two days per week.

But, the right kind of activity, coupled with a diet rich with fruits and vegetables and light on refined and processed foods, can lead to a longer, happier life, she said.

"But this can all be hard to do if the only grocery store in your area is a convenience store at a gas station" that doesn't sell fresh vegetables, Whitelaw said.

Only about one-quarter of U.S. adults eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day, according the report. And, studies show that older people consume inadequate amounts of key nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, magnesium and phosphorus, which play a key role in maintaining muscle and bone health.

So reach for an apple instead of the chips, Whitelaw said. And if you can't do 30 minutes of exercise at a time, try it in 10-minute spurts. You can also stretch when you're washing the dishes, take the stairs rather than the elevator, and walk across the parking lot rather than fight for the spot closest to the door. Better still, walk to your destination if it's less than a mile away.

These are things we all know, she said. "We just got out of the habit."
food nutrition

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food nutrition : Fish Oil Fat Could Shield IV-Dependent Infants

Doctors have long known that the prolonged feeding via IV -- otherwise known as parenteral nutrition -- can trigger serious liver damage in babies and young children.

Now, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston say IV feeding that includes a fat mixture made from fish oil could help greatly lower that risk.

The findings were published in the July issue of Pediatrics.

Experts aren't sure why IV feeding boosts babies' liver risks. However, many infants who develop this complication die within a year of being diagnosed, unless they receive a liver/small intestine transplant or can be weaned off IV feeding.

In their article, the researchers reported that they saved the lives of two infants by changing the type of fat used in the IV solution. Previously, the researchers had found evidence that the fat used in standard solutions (called Intralipid) contributed to liver disease by causing fat to accumulate in the liver. Intralipid is made largely of soybean oil and is high in omega-6 fatty acids that are known to have an inflammatory effect.

In previous research with mice, the Boston Children's team had tried using another fat called Omegaven -- an IV fat mixture made from fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids prevent fat accumulation and have anti-inflammatory properties, they noted. The researchers found that IV feeding with Omegaven prevented fat accumulation and liver injury in mice.

The researchers' article detailed how the use of Omegaven in IV solutions reversed liver disease in two babies with intestinal failure.

To date, Omegaven has been used as the fat portion in the solutions of 21 young patients with intestinal failure treated at Children's Hospital Boston. Most of the patients did well, although two died from unrelated causes.

The researchers plan to conduct a formal clinical trial aimed at preventing liver disease in IV recipients.

"Using a fat emulsion consisting solely of fish oils may enable liver toxicity to be treated or prevented entirely in children and adults who are dependent on parenteral nutrition," Dr. Mark Puder, a surgeon, said in a prepared statement.

By Robert Preidt