The Elements of a Healthy Diet: Minerals
Phase 4: The Elements of a Healthy Diet - Step 7: Minerals
Like vitamins, minerals are needed only in tiny amounts — they’re measured in thousandths or even millionths of a gram. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Elements of a Healthy Diet: Vitamins
Phase 4: The Elements of a Healthy Diet - Step 6: Vitamins
In this step, you’ll read about vitamins. Vitamins are substances found in small amounts in foods that help your body function properly and stay alive. These are substances that your body can’t create for itself or can’t make in large enough quantities. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Elements of a Healthy Diet: Water
Phase 4: The Elements of a Healthy Diet -Step 5: Water
Even though water contains no calories, you can only go a few days without it. About 60 percent of your body’s weight is made of water. Your blood, muscles, and bones all contain water. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Elements of a Healthy Diet: Fiber and phytochemicals
Phase 4: The Elements of a Healthy Diet - Step 4: Fiber and phytochemicals
If you know only a little about fiber, you might think that it’s something you really don’t want or need in your diet. After all, food manufacturers remove the high-fiber portions of grains during processing to make white flour, white bread, and white rice. However, fiber is an important part of your diet. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Elements of a Healthy Diet: Dietary fat
Phase 4: The Elements of a Healthy Diet - Step 3: Dietary fat
Fat has an important role in a healthy diet, as long as you eat it in moderation. Stick with the “good” fats and avoid the harmful ones whenever possible. According to the government’s nutrition experts, between 20 and 35 percent of your calories each day can come from fat. However, many other experts suggest 30 percent as the upper limit. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Elements of a Healthy Diet: Protein
Phase 4: The Elements of a Healthy Diet -Step 2: Protein
When you hold your hand out in front of you, what do you see? You see skin, fingernails, and probably some hair. These all contain protein, as do every cell in your body. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Elements of a Healthy Diet: Carbohydrates
Phase 4: The Elements of a Healthy Diet - Step 1: Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet. Foods that are high in carbohydrates — or “carbs” — provide your body with energy. Many carb-rich foods are also good sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Read the rest of this entry »
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Nutrients with No Value
Phase 3: The Nutrition Facts Label - Step 7: Nutrients with no value
When you look at a food label, you may notice that trans fat, sugars, and protein do not list a % Daily Value on the Nutrition Facts label. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Nutrition Facts Label: The footnote
Phase 3: The Nutrition Facts Label - Step 6: The footnote
Have you ever noticed the footnote at the bottom of a Nutrition Facts label and wondered what it meant? It really isn’t as complex as it looks. Notice the “*” used after the “% Daily Value” column heading. The asterisk refers to the footnote in the lower part of the Nutrition Facts label. The footnote tells you that % Daily Values “are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.” This statement must be on all food labels. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Daily Value and Daily Value Percentage
Phase 3: The Nutrition Facts Label - Step 5: The daily value and daily value percentage
The Nutrition Facts label includes a column called “% Daily Value.” It stand for “daily value percentage,” and it can help you determine if a serving of food is high or low in key nutrients. (A few nutrients, like trans fat, do not have a % Daily Value.) Read the rest of this entry »
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