BASIC NUTRITIONAL GUIDE
What is Nutrition? Nutrition is comprised of the nutrients/elements necessary for proper bodily function. There are two types of nutrients:
- Macronutrients (Proteins, Carbohydrates, Fats and Water)
- Micronutrients (Vitamins and Minerals)
What is a calorie? A calorie is the amount of heat produced when food is burned or metabolized in your body cells. Your body metabolizes food to produce energy in the form of heat, warming your body and powering every move you make.
All calories, no matter where they come from, give you energy. If you take in more calories than you spend each day you will gain weight, if you take in less you will loose weight.
Not consuming enough calories or not feeding our body on a consistent basis is unhealthy and will prevent weight loss or reduction of body fat. Whenever our body does not receive energy (calories) consistently it enters into a state of starvation and holds on to the food we do provide it, limiting the body's ability to burn and utilize the calories as intended. We should consume, on average, 5 to 6 meals daily, feeding our body every 3 hours.
Macronutrients
PROTEINS: The basic building block of muscles.
- Builds and maintains muscle
- Helps regulate metabolism
- Body uses more energy to break down protein (more energy = more calories)
- 1 gram of protein equals 4 calories
Protein should make up 30% of your daily caloric intake and a part of EVERY meal.
CARBOHYDRATES:
