It is often said that we are what we eat. This couldn’t be closer to the truth, because nutrients we ingest each day has a major impact on our physical performance and functions. We should understand the basics of nutrition by understanding our physical potentials. Each nutrient could have different influences on our body. We should include diet in our fitness program, because many people fall short of achieving their physical goals due to unhealthy eating. Every physiological action requires specific amount of energy. This is produced from units of energy or calories. Our body extracts energy from fats, protein and carbohydrate. Although nutrients don’t directly provide us with energy, they are still essential in allowing us to reach physical performance.
There are thousands of chemical reactions that occur within our body every second. They require correct amount and ratio of vitamins, minerals, other nutrients and water. If there’s a deficiency or imbalance in any of the area, our body won’t be able to perform properly at optimal levels. We may not have the control body in our body to see what’s inside our body; but we should have greater appreciation on things that occur inside our body. We should be aware of our reliance to essential nutrients obtained from foods we eat. Our dietary habits must be structured to meet our goals. As an example, we should consume foods that can meet our high utilization state. Healthy diet for people who perform daily exercise may include healthy oils, nuts and lean meat for sources of fat and protein.
It is important to reduce consumption of processed food or any man-made food products in the market. We should also avoid foods with preservatives, excessive coloring, high fructose corn syrup and any chemical compounds that we can’t identify.Whenever possible, we should incorporate veggies and fruits that are grown organically in local areas. This should prevent us from consuming trace amounts of pesticides that can accumulate over time. Gas ripened food and genetically altered crops can also affect our body adversely. We should look food not only as the fuel for optimal performance, but also safe source of nutrients that don’t carry with them dangerous toxins and substances. It is true that we often do emotional decisions when choosing foods, but we should choose those that can fuel our body.
Proper hydration is an essential part of any physiological process within our body. We are already dehydrated if we are thirsty. We should always have a container of water near us and drink constantly when our mount starts to feel drier, just before we actually feel thirsty. It is also important to limit our caffeine and alcohol consumption. They should be consumed properly and in moderation. Alcohol and caffeine are foreign substance to our body. In excess, they can place stress on our system. Coffee could adversely affect our metabolism and energy. It means that we should consume them in moderation and they actually offer benefits in limited quantity.