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Nutrition is all about providing the body with the right ingredients for a healthy life. It's truely amazing how many common health problems could be alleviated or even prevented with good nuturition. A bad diet can result in life threatening conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.
So how can we get the balance right?
Strategy One: Eat foods appropriate to your age group
The nutritional needs of infants, children, adolescents, adults and seniors can be quite different. For example, because of their high-energy needs, reduced fat milks are not suitable for children under 2 years. Breast feeding is encouraged and according to a recent study may even boost a growing youngster's IQ.
A healthy diet for children and adolescents must include plenty of vegetables, legumes, fruits and cereals. Lean meats are great with the inclusion of fish and poultry. Absolutely no alcohol of course with limited saturated fats, foods low in salt and only moderate amounts of sugars.
Adults need all of the usual nutritious foods such as vegies, legumes, fruits and cereals. Low fat milks, yoghurts and cheeses are encouraged whenever possible. Drink plenty of water and while a glass of red wine may have certain health benefits, drinking in moderation is key.
Muscle strength and healthy body weight are key issues for seniors. A healthy diet for this age group must include at least 3 meals a day, drink plenty of water and limit your intake of alcohols. Choose foods that are low in salt and sugar. Importantly, include foods that are high in calcium to maintain bone health.
Strategy Two: Consider the benefits of eating seasonal foods
It makes a lot of sense to eat seasonally aligned foods and has become a well-developed tenet of preventative medicine. Fresh fruit and vegetables are higher in nutrients and have a better flavour than their counterparts that have been sitting in storage for months at a time. The best news is that scientific research has shown a diet rich in fruit and vegetables can offer some protection against cardiovascular disease.
Eating local and seasonal foods is not only good for you but it supports local farmers and the production of crops that are appropriate to our local environment. This alleviates the modern reliance on the long-distance transport and refrigeration of foods that are grown thousands of kilometers away. Seasonally appropriate crops are more likely to work with rather than against local biological and environmental systems and species, minimising the requirement for pesticides, glass houses, etc…
As you can see, caring for your health takes care of our planet's health too.
Strategy Three: Know your body
We all know about food allergies, but there are other health risks to be aware of such as food intolerance. Food intolerance (or food sensitivity) is not related to an adverse immune response, as with allergies, but can be caused by the absence of enzymes or chemicals that are needed to properly digest food.
Often mistaken for a food allergy, intolerances such as lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance and salicylate sensitivity can require a complete overhaul of a persons diet.
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