For anyone who enjoys an active lifestyle, whether as an athlete or simply to stay fit, nutrition data can be a very useful tool. When coupled with experience and common sense, information of this kind can be used to inform the choices made about diet. While pages of statistics, or numbers on labels, can be confusing, using some sense with regard to food choices is not hard.
For a start, anyone who wants to make their body healthier and fitter should avoid processed food of any kind. Scanning the label of many pre-processed and pre-packaged foods can be like reading a chemistry textbook on occasion. The more chemical compounds that there are listed on the side of a product, then the greater the need to avoid it becomes.
Sugar, in particular, is the enemy of a healthy body, and the kind of refined and processed sugar which exists in many pre-packaged products is particularly harmful. While fat was viewed as the enemy of health until fairly recently, it has been discovered that sugar is the main driver of obesity in many people. Eating natural fats, such as those which occur in milk, nuts and eggs, is actually good for the body, and helps it burn unhealthy fat.
Finding a healthy protein source is essential for a good diet, and white meat, such as chicken, and fish can play an important role in providing protein. Red meat contains more saturated, or unhealthy, fat than meats which are classified as white. It also contains more cholesterol, and has been identified as a cause of digestive illness and heart conditions.
It is also wise to avoid fried food, especially food which has been fried in generic vegetable or corn oil. If you need to fry foods, do so gently in olive oil. Olive oil is also an excellent choice to dress foods such as salads, as it is nutritious and can help the body to burn unhealthy fats.
In general terms, if food can be killed or grows in the ground, then it is wise to eat it. Eating as naturally as possible eliminates many of the problems which can arise from eating processed food. Analysing data on labels can only get you so far when it comes to choosing what is healthy to eat.
Nutrition data can be a useful complement to common sense when choosing food. Avoid foods which are processed and pre-packaged. Choose foods which are as close to their natural state as possible before preparation and cooking.
For a start, anyone who wants to make their body healthier and fitter should avoid processed food of any kind. Scanning the label of many pre-processed and pre-packaged foods can be like reading a chemistry textbook on occasion. The more chemical compounds that there are listed on the side of a product, then the greater the need to avoid it becomes.
Sugar, in particular, is the enemy of a healthy body, and the kind of refined and processed sugar which exists in many pre-packaged products is particularly harmful. While fat was viewed as the enemy of health until fairly recently, it has been discovered that sugar is the main driver of obesity in many people. Eating natural fats, such as those which occur in milk, nuts and eggs, is actually good for the body, and helps it burn unhealthy fat.
Finding a healthy protein source is essential for a good diet, and white meat, such as chicken, and fish can play an important role in providing protein. Red meat contains more saturated, or unhealthy, fat than meats which are classified as white. It also contains more cholesterol, and has been identified as a cause of digestive illness and heart conditions.
It is also wise to avoid fried food, especially food which has been fried in generic vegetable or corn oil. If you need to fry foods, do so gently in olive oil. Olive oil is also an excellent choice to dress foods such as salads, as it is nutritious and can help the body to burn unhealthy fats.
In general terms, if food can be killed or grows in the ground, then it is wise to eat it. Eating as naturally as possible eliminates many of the problems which can arise from eating processed food. Analysing data on labels can only get you so far when it comes to choosing what is healthy to eat.
Nutrition data can be a useful complement to common sense when choosing food. Avoid foods which are processed and pre-packaged. Choose foods which are as close to their natural state as possible before preparation and cooking.