Just knowing the recipes and how to make them isnt enough. Being aware of what and how much you are eating is definitely an additional knowledge that would help you feel a little less guilty about a wholesome meal.
Here are some must-know facts about the daily essential nutrients:
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates can be grouped into two categories: simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are sugars whereas complex carbohydrates consist of starch and dietary fibre. Carbohydrate provides about 4 kcal (kcal = kilocalories = Calories) per gram (except for fibre) and is the energy that is used first to fuel muscles and the brain. Soluble fibre (fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, brown rice, and oat, barley and rice bran) lowers blood cholesterol and helps to control blood sugar levels while providing very little energy. Insoluble fibre (wheat and corn bran, whole-grain breads and cereals, vegetables, fruit skins, nuts) don’t provide any calories. It helps to alleviate digestive disorders like constipation or diverticulitis and may help prevent colon cancer. Most calories (55-60%) should come from carbohydrates. Sources of carbohydrates include grain products such as breads, cereals, pasta, and rice as well as fruits and vegetables.
Proteins
Protein from food is broken down into amino acids by the digestive system. These amino acids are then used for building and repairing muscles, red blood cells, hair and other tissues, and for making hormones. Adequate protein intake is also important for a healthy immune system. Because protein is a source of calories (4 kcal per gram), it will be used for energy if not enough carbohydrate is available due to skipped meals, heavy exercise, etc. Main sources of protein are animal products like meat, fish, poultry, milk, cheese and eggs and vegetable sources like legumes (beans, lentils, dried peas, nuts) and seeds.
Fats
The fat in food includes a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fat. Animal-based foods such as meats and milk products are higher in saturated fat whereas most vegetable oils are higher in unsaturated fat. Compared to carbohydrate and protein, each gram of fat provides more than twice the amount of calories (9 kcal per gram). Nevertheless, dietary fat does play an important role in a healthy diet. Fat maintains skin and hair, cushions vital organs, provides insulation, and is necessary for the production and absorption of certain vitamins and hormones. Nutrition guidelines state that Canadians should include no more than 30% of energy (calories) as fat and no more than 10% of energy as saturated fat.
Vitamins
Vitamins help to regulate chemical reactions in the body. There are 13 vitamins, including vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, and K. Because most vitamins cannot be made in the body, we must obtain them through the diet. Many people say that they feel more energetic after consuming vitamins, but vitamins are not a source of energy (calories). Vitamins are best consumed through a varied diet rather than as a supplement because there is little chance of taking too high a dose.
Minerals
Minerals are components of foods that are involved in many body functions. For example, calcium and magnesium are important for bone structure, and iron is needed for our red blood cells to transport oxygen. Like vitamins, minerals are not a source of energy and are best obtained through a varied diet rather than supplements.
Water
Water is a vital nutrient for good health. Most of our body weight (60-70%) is made up of water. Water helps to control our body temperature, carries nutrients and waste products from our cells, and is needed for our cells to function. It is recommended that adults drink 8 glasses of fluid daily (or more in hot weather or during physical activity). This fluid does not have to be water alone. It can also be obtained from juice, milk, soup, and foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables. Caffeine-containing beverages (coffee, tea, cola) don't count because caffeine is a diuretic, making us lose water. A great plus for water in comparison to the other fluids is that it hydrates our body without extra calories.
RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCE
The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) refer to the recommended daily levels of nutrients and calories, to meet the needs of nearly all healthy individuals in a particular age and gender group.
RDA varies for each person, as it is based on the age, gender, physical condition (pregnant, lactating) and daily activities;
(a) Sedentary worker-Teacher, Lawyer, Doctor, Nurse, etc.
(b) Moderate worker-Driver, Potter, Carpenter, etc.
(c) Heavy worker-Player, Labourer, Iron smith, etc.
The RDA table is a great tool used to plan a daily or weekly menu, which would help in maintaining or losing weight, without a temporary fast, or eating wrong food because of lack of information.
Here are some must-know facts about the daily essential nutrients:
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates can be grouped into two categories: simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are sugars whereas complex carbohydrates consist of starch and dietary fibre. Carbohydrate provides about 4 kcal (kcal = kilocalories = Calories) per gram (except for fibre) and is the energy that is used first to fuel muscles and the brain. Soluble fibre (fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, brown rice, and oat, barley and rice bran) lowers blood cholesterol and helps to control blood sugar levels while providing very little energy. Insoluble fibre (wheat and corn bran, whole-grain breads and cereals, vegetables, fruit skins, nuts) don’t provide any calories. It helps to alleviate digestive disorders like constipation or diverticulitis and may help prevent colon cancer. Most calories (55-60%) should come from carbohydrates. Sources of carbohydrates include grain products such as breads, cereals, pasta, and rice as well as fruits and vegetables.
Proteins
Protein from food is broken down into amino acids by the digestive system. These amino acids are then used for building and repairing muscles, red blood cells, hair and other tissues, and for making hormones. Adequate protein intake is also important for a healthy immune system. Because protein is a source of calories (4 kcal per gram), it will be used for energy if not enough carbohydrate is available due to skipped meals, heavy exercise, etc. Main sources of protein are animal products like meat, fish, poultry, milk, cheese and eggs and vegetable sources like legumes (beans, lentils, dried peas, nuts) and seeds.
Fats
The fat in food includes a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fat. Animal-based foods such as meats and milk products are higher in saturated fat whereas most vegetable oils are higher in unsaturated fat. Compared to carbohydrate and protein, each gram of fat provides more than twice the amount of calories (9 kcal per gram). Nevertheless, dietary fat does play an important role in a healthy diet. Fat maintains skin and hair, cushions vital organs, provides insulation, and is necessary for the production and absorption of certain vitamins and hormones. Nutrition guidelines state that Canadians should include no more than 30% of energy (calories) as fat and no more than 10% of energy as saturated fat.
Vitamins
Vitamins help to regulate chemical reactions in the body. There are 13 vitamins, including vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, and K. Because most vitamins cannot be made in the body, we must obtain them through the diet. Many people say that they feel more energetic after consuming vitamins, but vitamins are not a source of energy (calories). Vitamins are best consumed through a varied diet rather than as a supplement because there is little chance of taking too high a dose.
Minerals
Minerals are components of foods that are involved in many body functions. For example, calcium and magnesium are important for bone structure, and iron is needed for our red blood cells to transport oxygen. Like vitamins, minerals are not a source of energy and are best obtained through a varied diet rather than supplements.
Water
Water is a vital nutrient for good health. Most of our body weight (60-70%) is made up of water. Water helps to control our body temperature, carries nutrients and waste products from our cells, and is needed for our cells to function. It is recommended that adults drink 8 glasses of fluid daily (or more in hot weather or during physical activity). This fluid does not have to be water alone. It can also be obtained from juice, milk, soup, and foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables. Caffeine-containing beverages (coffee, tea, cola) don't count because caffeine is a diuretic, making us lose water. A great plus for water in comparison to the other fluids is that it hydrates our body without extra calories.
RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCE
The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) refer to the recommended daily levels of nutrients and calories, to meet the needs of nearly all healthy individuals in a particular age and gender group.
RDA varies for each person, as it is based on the age, gender, physical condition (pregnant, lactating) and daily activities;
(a) Sedentary worker-Teacher, Lawyer, Doctor, Nurse, etc.
(b) Moderate worker-Driver, Potter, Carpenter, etc.
(c) Heavy worker-Player, Labourer, Iron smith, etc.
The RDA table is a great tool used to plan a daily or weekly menu, which would help in maintaining or losing weight, without a temporary fast, or eating wrong food because of lack of information.
Now that the basics of RDA are clear, the next step is familiarise oneself with the nutritional values of food.
Diets often compare food based on their nutritional values. The higher nutritional value an item has, the better it is for you.
There are many factors that must be examined when determining whether an item has a high nutritional value. Reading the nutritional label is the best way to start making this determination.
A nutritional value is a determination on how healthy a food or drink item is. Being classified as healthy -- or having a high nutritional value -- involves consideration of the amount of calories, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals the item has. If a food or drink item offers low calories, fat and carbs, but offers a high percentage of the essential vitamins, then the item is classified as having a high nutritional value. However, if the food item contains a lot of calories, fat or carbs, but has minimal or no vitamins and minerals, then the item would be classified as having a low nutritional value.
Below is a list of foods and their values:
Diets often compare food based on their nutritional values. The higher nutritional value an item has, the better it is for you.
There are many factors that must be examined when determining whether an item has a high nutritional value. Reading the nutritional label is the best way to start making this determination.
A nutritional value is a determination on how healthy a food or drink item is. Being classified as healthy -- or having a high nutritional value -- involves consideration of the amount of calories, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals the item has. If a food or drink item offers low calories, fat and carbs, but offers a high percentage of the essential vitamins, then the item is classified as having a high nutritional value. However, if the food item contains a lot of calories, fat or carbs, but has minimal or no vitamins and minerals, then the item would be classified as having a low nutritional value.
Below is a list of foods and their values: