Use The Nutrition Pyramid To Provide Your Body With What It Needs
No matter our age, but certainly as we grow older our body needs to be provided with sufficient amounts of nutritious foods in order for it to remain functioning properly. One of the easiest ways of ensuring that this is done is by using a diet that is based upon the nutrition pyramid.
This is a food plan which provides you with a list of foods that are not only considered to be healthy, but will also provide your body with what it needs in order for it to function. Below we take a look at the levels that make up the pyramid and the foods which come into each of these.
Pyramid Base - This is made up of foods such as cereal, grain, pasta and bread which contain complex carbohydrates in them. These are essential part of any diet as they will help to provide your body with energy that it needs to function on a day to day basis. These are even more essential for those people whose diets are very low in fat as they will help to protect the body as well. On average a person should be aiming to have between 6 and 11 servings of these each day.
Level 1 - In this part of the pyramid you will find the fruit and vegetables and it is recommended that a person should have between three and five servings of these particular foods each day. Not only do they contain large amounts of nutrients and minerals but also essential Vitamins that our bodies need. A serving of fruit could be an apple or banana whilst a serving of vegetables could be 1/2 a cup of them which you can eat either cooked or raw.
Level 2 - At this level of the pyramid you will find those foods which are essential for keeping the body in good condition but which you do not need to each as much of. Foods that come into this part of the pyramid are meats (lean), fish, eggs, beans and peas and dairy products. It is recommended that you should only have between 2 or 3 servings of the foods in these particular groups each day. So say 2 ounces of chicken breast with a green salad would constitute one serving on any given day.
Level 3 - Is made up of those foods which you should have very little of. In this group, you will find those foods, which contain fat and oil as well as sweet ones. The reason that you should not include too much of these in your diet are that they provide you with very few nutritional items and instead will provide you with more calories. So cut down on the oil you use when cooking and the sodas.
The reason why one should not cut out fat foods from their diet is that they actually protect the organs in the body by providing them with padding. Also these foods are essential at helping your skin and nails to remain healthy. The best kinds of oils to include within your diet if you need to use them are olive and canola ones.
By using the nutrition pyramid in your diet plan you will soon find that you feel a whole let better and your energy levels have begun to improve as well. So not only will you feel better but you will also start to look a whole lot better as well.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
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Here at Middle Age Fitness we offer you advice on how to remain fit and healthy as you get older. If you would like to learn more about why nutrition is important in you diet then click here
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