Nutrition data is readily available; for instance, you can access federal guidelines issued for public information and read the labels on food packages. Online sites and books of advice abound. There is more information than anyone can absorb. Both conventional and alternative views vie for attention and the money that consumers spend on food and supplements.
If you are just beginning a study of good food choices, the federal guidelines are not a bad place to start. You will get an overview of conventional wisdom about minimum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals, calories, protein, fats, and fiber. The human body is very efficient if given the nutrients it needs; a good diet is the foundation of health.
One complication is that not everyone is the same. Food that sustains one person might give another an allergy attack or gastric distress. Regularity might be usual for one person, who needs little fiber, while another might struggle for proper elimination no matter how much whole food is consumed.
Food can contain allergens that make it indigestible for a person who will get little or no nutrition out of it. Foods can also be laced with preservatives, artificial flavors and colors (that can trigger hyperactivity in children), sweeteners, sodium, or spices that might make it a poor choice. Fresh produce can be tainted with pesticide residue and could even be genetically modified.
It is important to know what is in the food you plan to eat, in order to avoid empty calories or allergens. You should also know where it comes from. Produce that is imported might have been grown in an area with lax control over pesticide and herbicide use. If it comes from a country with strict controls, it could be premium fare. Remember that produce from far away was probably ripened during shipment, sprayed with fungicide, and could have lost much of its nutritional value.
Advice books on weight control, energy, mental alertness, and more abound, each with a point of view. One says to eat whole wheat bread you make yourself, and others that say you should never eat the grain in any form. Some books promote high protein, others say that a small number of almonds contain all the protein you need for one day.
The best practice is to read as much reputable nutrition data as you can, to get a consensus of opinion. Then try some of the programs for yourself. If you are sensitive to wheat or dairy, you will soon know. If you must eliminate certain foods to feel your best, make sure to find acceptable sources of the nutrients you will be missing. The more you investigate and experiment, the more you will feel sure of satisfying your own personal needs.
If you are just beginning a study of good food choices, the federal guidelines are not a bad place to start. You will get an overview of conventional wisdom about minimum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals, calories, protein, fats, and fiber. The human body is very efficient if given the nutrients it needs; a good diet is the foundation of health.
One complication is that not everyone is the same. Food that sustains one person might give another an allergy attack or gastric distress. Regularity might be usual for one person, who needs little fiber, while another might struggle for proper elimination no matter how much whole food is consumed.
Food can contain allergens that make it indigestible for a person who will get little or no nutrition out of it. Foods can also be laced with preservatives, artificial flavors and colors (that can trigger hyperactivity in children), sweeteners, sodium, or spices that might make it a poor choice. Fresh produce can be tainted with pesticide residue and could even be genetically modified.
It is important to know what is in the food you plan to eat, in order to avoid empty calories or allergens. You should also know where it comes from. Produce that is imported might have been grown in an area with lax control over pesticide and herbicide use. If it comes from a country with strict controls, it could be premium fare. Remember that produce from far away was probably ripened during shipment, sprayed with fungicide, and could have lost much of its nutritional value.
Advice books on weight control, energy, mental alertness, and more abound, each with a point of view. One says to eat whole wheat bread you make yourself, and others that say you should never eat the grain in any form. Some books promote high protein, others say that a small number of almonds contain all the protein you need for one day.
The best practice is to read as much reputable nutrition data as you can, to get a consensus of opinion. Then try some of the programs for yourself. If you are sensitive to wheat or dairy, you will soon know. If you must eliminate certain foods to feel your best, make sure to find acceptable sources of the nutrients you will be missing. The more you investigate and experiment, the more you will feel sure of satisfying your own personal needs.
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