Nutrition 101

Here it is, the "skinny" on Nutrition that I hope you will find very useful in your quest for good health.  This info is intended to provide the basics of Nutrition and NOT an in-depth explanation of Nutrition Science for the health and fitness professionals (although there is a great deal of information in here for you too).

If you have ever struggled with knowing how your body processes the foods that you eat; or why that spaghetti meal you had last night is showing on the scale this morning; or why certain foods are healthy and others are not, then this is for YOU.

I will explain what happens inside your body after you have eaten; in a way that is easy to understand, so that you will finally be in control of your health and weight.

So, here’s to your health!!

Macronutrient Caloric Values:

CARBOHYDRATES - (4 calories per gram)
Fruits, Vegetables, Breads, Alcohols, Potato Chips, Fruit Juices, Candy, Soda, etc.
(Basically any food that is not primarily from animal sources)

• Carbohydrates are quickly and easily digested and burned for immediate energy needs.
  • Any extra is converted to fat and stored in fat cells.

FATS - (9 calories per gram)
Oils, Butter, Dairy, Ice Cream, Cheese, Fatty Fish, Chocolate, Nuts, Avocado, etc.

• Dietary Fat is not quickly digested (it takes time to empty from your stomach).
• Your body burns fat for energy at rest, between meals, while sleeping, and during low to moderate intensity exercise.

PROTEIN - (4 calories per gram)
 Beef, Pork, Turkey, Fish, Poultry, Eggs, Soy, etc.
(Basically any food that is primarily from animal sources)

• Protein is not quickly digested (it takes more time to empty from your stomach, but not as much a dietary fat).
• Protein serves as the building blocks for the body’s tissues and function: using protein to build and repair body tissue and to create enzymes to aid in body functions.
• Protein will also be used for fuel when your caloric intake is low.

*Most foods contain a combination of these nutrients.
(i.e., ice cream has both fat and carbohydrate; and beef has both protein and fat).