Good Nutrition and Proper Diet - What is It?

It is a well-known and widely understood fact that nutrition and proper diet are essential to a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition and proper diet are also important because they can stop or slow the progression of many diseases.

Good nutrition and proper diet are needed most to help the body recover and cope the stresses of day-to-day living. You must always keep in mind that the body is like a sponge and it absorbs whatever you put into it.

Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body. It is widely believed that the best forms are complex carbohydrates. These complex carbohydrates (aka carbs) are important to supply energy for your body and most will come from complex sources. Some good examples of complex carbohydrates include grains such as oatmeal, rice, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kidney beans, eggplant, lentils, onions, and tomatoes. These are foods that are high in carbohydrates.




Simple carbohydrates are more refined, are usually found in foods with fewer nutrients, and tend to be less satisfying and more fattening. Ideally the suggested best ratio of protein, carbohydrate and fat would be 2:2:1.

Another very important nutrition factor in a good diet is water consumption. You should be drinking water several times daily, especially when exercising or doing any strenuous activity. This will help replenish the water you body loses when sweating.

Experts say that people who are overly particular about diet and nutrition have a greater tendency of believing that their food choices are healthier than they actually are.

It should be noted that fruits contain simple sugars like fructose, which needs no digesting and can therefore enter the blood stream quickly like glucose or sucrose. Fruit should be limited as the sugar is too easily digested. If sugar cravings are a problem a piece of fruit is a better choice than other forms of sugar.

These are just a few thoughts on the importance of good diet and nutrition.

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Lose Weight and Feel Great With the Anti-Inflammatory Diet

The anti-inflammatory diet can make you feel great! "How," you ask. By cutting out or significantly reducing your consumption of pro-inflammatory foods. When these foods are cut from your diet, inflammation in the body reduces taking stress and strain from the joints and organs.

While following this diet your chance of weight loss also goes up. "How does this happen," by reducing your consumption of grain and wheat products, sodas, and other simple sugars that cause excess weight.

I'll start this discussion by telling you what extra inflammation in the body causes; chronic pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, acne, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cancer, hypertension, depression, and diabetes. However, this is a shortened list there are many other conditions out there caused by inflammation.




In short summary, the fewer inflammatory foods we eat, the less inflammation we have in the body.

Background Information on Pro-Inflammatory Foods:

Grains, refined sugars, partial-hydrogenated oils, vegetable and seed oils are from modern man. These foods have been around a short time; hence, obesity and disease are on the rise. Humans are genetically adapted to eat fruits, veggies, nuts, lean meats, and fish, foods not related to chronic diseases.

Why Do Grains Inflame?
 
Grains contain a protein called gluten. Gluten is the main cause of many digestive diseases, such as celiac disease, also contributor to frequent headaches. They also have a sugar protein called lectins which has been shown to cause inflammation in the digestive system. Grains also contain phytic acid which is known to reduce the body's absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc.

Lastly, grains contain high amounts of fatty acid biochemicals called omega-6 fatty acids which do cause inflammation. Fatty acid biochemicals known as omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and found in fresh fish and green vegetables.

What Should I Eat?

Anti inflammatory foods

- All fruits and vegetables (raw or lightly cooked)
- Red and sweet potatoes
- Anti-inflammatory omega-3 eggs
- Raw nuts
- Spices such as ginger, turmeric, garlic
- Organic butter, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh fish, avoid farm raised
- Meat, chicken, eggs from grass-fed animals
- Wild game such as deer, elk, etc.
- Water, organic green tea, red wine, stout beer

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The Effectiveness of Bodyweight Exercises For Fat Loss

Expensive equipment is not necessary to lose weight or get a good workout. Bodyweight training is simple, effective, and easy on your wallet. You can build incredible strength using nothing more than the weight of your own body.

Bodyweight training can be accomplished by anyone regardless of experience level, age, or starting weight. A typical training regimen includes a daily workout of about twenty minutes right in your own home. You do not need any weights, benches or exercise equipment; just your own body, a little time, and commitment.

Weights can be combined with bodyweight training, if you wish, but they are not necessary. In fact, many people drop the weights all together once they realize how effective bodyweight training can be. Strength and tone do not have to be earned at the expense of your hard-earned money.




Push-ups, pull-ups, jumps, leaps, squats, lunges, and planks are all effective bodyweight training exercises that can improve your strength and stamina. These exercises also improve your ability to move through space, without focusing on any extremes. They will help you become stronger in all areas, faster and give you higher endurance for physical activities.

Bodyweight training is not only less expensive than traditional methods, it is also more effective. For example, push-ups and pull-ups work out a greater amount of muscle tissue than a bench press or lat pull-down. These exercises also more closely resemble actions we would perform in daily life.

You will burn more calories and activate more of your muscles through bodyweight training than you would if you were using expensive exercise equipment. In this case, more is definitely less. Short and intense training sessions performed at home can get you in shape quickly, without expending unneeded money or effort.

Bodyweight training targets multiple muscle groups at once, which builds muscle and a functional body. Exercise equipment and machines tend to focus on one group of muscles at a time. They take longer to create the same results you will get from simple, no-fuss bodyweight exercises.

Many athletes today, such as gymnasts, incorporate bodyweight exercises into their own training. This is because they have realized the power of using their own bodyweight to burn fat and increase strength. It can be a challenge to become accustomed to this type of exercise but it is well worth the effort. Have you ever wanted the toned, muscular body of a gymnast?

The best part of bodyweight training, aside from the financial relief, is the ability to slowly progress as you see fit. Many people misunderstand progression when it comes to bodyweight exercises. You cannot simply add more weights. Instead, you will have to increase repetitions, decrease resting time, and add new exercises. If this is done slowly, with each workout you will become stronger and your stamina will increase.

The trick is to find a balance. Do not overwhelm yourself with too many exercises or repetitions at first. Once you have mastered the basics, move on to more advanced actions. Soon you will be an advocate for bodyweight training too, as it tones and sculpts your body without expensive and unnecessary equipment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Shelly_Wyatt/41303