Get Your Sparkle Back: 10 Steps to Weight Loss and Overcoming Emotional Eating by Silvana Siskov

Author:Silvana Siskov [Siskov, Silvana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-16T00:00:00+00:00

Nutrients and Your Body

In order to function properly, our body needs nutrients. Nutrients help the body to live, grow, and survive. There are three different types of nutrients: macronutrients, micronutrients, and water. They are divided into different subgroups, and each plays a specific role in the body and has a different function.

Fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are the three main macronutrients our body gets from food, and it needs these in large amounts.

Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals, and the body requires these in smaller amounts. The body can make some of the micronutrients, but some of them can only be taken through the food we eat. It is important to consume a great variety of foods, as one food will not provide the body with everything it needs. What you get from one type of food, you will not get from another. The key to good health is to have a diet that is as varied as possible.

Water is probably the most important nutrient. We cannot survive without it. More than 60% of our body is made of water, and every cell in our body needs water to be able to function properly. Water helps to regulate body temperature, supports digestion, flushes body waste, affects mental functioning, provides us with energy, and so much more. Our bodies cannot live without water for more than a few days. Dehydration can kill us.

Here is a short description of the roles of the nutrients needed by the body:

Proteins – help the body to grow and maintain tissues, muscles, and hormones.

Fats or lipids – provide us with energy, form cell membranes, and help proteins do their job.

Carbohydrates – provide the body with energy.

Vitamins – help the body to grow and develop, and have an impact on metabolism, immunity, and digestion.

Minerals – help the body to grow and develop, and stay healthy.

Fibre – helps with normal bowel movement.

Water – has many important functions, from digestion to controlling the body temperature.

Have you noticed that I have not mentioned sugar? That is right. Our body does not need sugar. Sugar is one of the main killers in today’s society, and I suggest you avoid eating added sugar. I will be talking more about this in the next chapter.

When thinking of the right diet for your body, think of balance and moderation. Your body needs the right foods, in the right amounts. Excess food can cause you to gain weight, which can result in the development of negative physical symptoms that can lead to many health conditions.

So, what is a balanced diet, and what should your plate look like?

A balanced diet is made of lean protein, good quality fats, complex carbohydrates, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Your dinner plate should contain following:

1/4 of your plate should contain protein rich foods, such as eggs, seafood, meat, beans or lentils.

1/4 of your plate should be filled with carbohydrate-rich foods, which include whole grains, starchy vegetables, oats, or rye.

1/2 of the plate should be filled with green and non-starchy vegetables.

Healthy fats include avocado, nuts, olive oil, seeds, and fatty fish — use them in moderation.

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