Anyone who is training hard, whether as an athlete or a member of the general public who wants to become healthier, can make use of nutrition data. The information which is on food labels, or is available from other sources, can help anyone make more informed choices about how to refuel their body. If the numbers do not seem to add up, then using commons sense can be an effective complement to more specific data.
The most sensible first step which anyone who wants to improve their diet can take is to begin to avoid processed food. Pre-packaged and pre-processed meals often have labels of ingredients which read like a recipe for a chemistry experiment, rather than something you would actually want to eat. If there are so many chemical names on a label that it is hard to tell what kind of food is actually in the product, it is probably a good idea to avoid it.
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.
The choice of meat that is eaten is also very important when making a conscious effort to make a diet healthier. Lean, white meat, such as chicken, is better for general health than red meat, which has been linked to digestive problems and heart disease when consumed excessively. Red meat has more cholesterol and saturated, or unhealthy fat than white meat, while fish and beans can also be healthier sources of protein.
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.
A good general rule for choosing healthy foods is whether it can be killed, or whether it can be grown. If either of those criteria can be applied, then it is probably very healthy. If a product has a long list of chemical ingredients, it should be avoided.
Always take nutrition data into account when choosing which foods to eat. Any analysis needs to be accompanied by common sense too. In general terms, aim for natural foods and you cannot go wrong.
The most sensible first step which anyone who wants to improve their diet can take is to begin to avoid processed food. Pre-packaged and pre-processed meals often have labels of ingredients which read like a recipe for a chemistry experiment, rather than something you would actually want to eat. If there are so many chemical names on a label that it is hard to tell what kind of food is actually in the product, it is probably a good idea to avoid it.
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.
The choice of meat that is eaten is also very important when making a conscious effort to make a diet healthier. Lean, white meat, such as chicken, is better for general health than red meat, which has been linked to digestive problems and heart disease when consumed excessively. Red meat has more cholesterol and saturated, or unhealthy fat than white meat, while fish and beans can also be healthier sources of protein.
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.
A good general rule for choosing healthy foods is whether it can be killed, or whether it can be grown. If either of those criteria can be applied, then it is probably very healthy. If a product has a long list of chemical ingredients, it should be avoided.
Always take nutrition data into account when choosing which foods to eat. Any analysis needs to be accompanied by common sense too. In general terms, aim for natural foods and you cannot go wrong.
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