There is no lack of nutrition data available to those who want to learn about health. Federal guidelines for a balanced diet and labels on every food product sold in the United States provide information. For more information, or for alternative views, there are too many nutritional guides and online sites to assimilate.
If you are a beginner, the federal guidelines will provide a basic understanding of good versus bad fats, how much protein is recommended, what vitamins and minerals are essential, and how much fiber is needed on a daily basis. Most experts feel that a balanced diet of whole foods is the proper foundation for health and well-being.
Things are complicated by the fact that everyone is an individual, with specific needs that might be different from those of the general public or even members of the same family. For instance, whole wheat bread could be a good source of fiber, B vitamins, and calcium for those who can digest wheat gluten without problems. For others, even one slice can cause gastric distress.
If a person is allergic to foods or cannot digest them properly, that individual might get little food value out of their diet. Foods that contain 'empty calories', like potato chips or sodas - or that are full of preservatives, sodium, or sugars - will destroy health rather than build it. Artificial flavors and colors are additives that may cause problems.
This is why it pays to know what ingredients are in your food and where it comes from. Produce grown in other countries might have a higher pesticide content - but not necessarily. Exotic fruits and vegetables probably will be picked before full ripeness, and long shipping times can lessen the food value considerably.
You will find experts - many of them medical doctors - who advocate lots of good fat, almost no fat at all, complex carbohydrates as the basic food group, low-carb and high-protein diets, fruit only, vegetables only, or who say that you can eat anything you want if you exercise enough. The trick is to find out what works for you, create a program that builds health and fosters ideal weight, and stick to it.
Make sure that your sources are reputable and not cleverly disguised advertisements for certain foods or programs. Find facts that many experts agree on or which are supported by clinical research, factor in your own needs and sensitivities, and choose what advice you will follow. Nutrition data is great if you use it as a guide rather than getting discouraged by the scope and variety.
If you are a beginner, the federal guidelines will provide a basic understanding of good versus bad fats, how much protein is recommended, what vitamins and minerals are essential, and how much fiber is needed on a daily basis. Most experts feel that a balanced diet of whole foods is the proper foundation for health and well-being.
Things are complicated by the fact that everyone is an individual, with specific needs that might be different from those of the general public or even members of the same family. For instance, whole wheat bread could be a good source of fiber, B vitamins, and calcium for those who can digest wheat gluten without problems. For others, even one slice can cause gastric distress.
If a person is allergic to foods or cannot digest them properly, that individual might get little food value out of their diet. Foods that contain 'empty calories', like potato chips or sodas - or that are full of preservatives, sodium, or sugars - will destroy health rather than build it. Artificial flavors and colors are additives that may cause problems.
This is why it pays to know what ingredients are in your food and where it comes from. Produce grown in other countries might have a higher pesticide content - but not necessarily. Exotic fruits and vegetables probably will be picked before full ripeness, and long shipping times can lessen the food value considerably.
You will find experts - many of them medical doctors - who advocate lots of good fat, almost no fat at all, complex carbohydrates as the basic food group, low-carb and high-protein diets, fruit only, vegetables only, or who say that you can eat anything you want if you exercise enough. The trick is to find out what works for you, create a program that builds health and fosters ideal weight, and stick to it.
Make sure that your sources are reputable and not cleverly disguised advertisements for certain foods or programs. Find facts that many experts agree on or which are supported by clinical research, factor in your own needs and sensitivities, and choose what advice you will follow. Nutrition data is great if you use it as a guide rather than getting discouraged by the scope and variety.
