Did you know that in the U.S., 8 out of 10 adults do not eat the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day?
Eating well is vital for everyone at all ages. Your daily food choices can make an important difference in your health and in how you look and feel. Eating well gives your body the nutrients it needs to keep your muscles, bones, and organs healthy throughout your life. Eating well isn’t about a “diet” or “program” that’s here today and gone tomorrow. It involves adopting a healthy lifestyle now and sticking with it through the years to come.
Foundational nutrition provides the basic nutrients and makes up the building blocks that everyone needs. These nutrients include vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fats, and water. Since the 20th century, industrial farming practices dramatically increased food production, and increasing crop yields with the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides became commonplace. Implementing new technologies also enhanced the shelf life of food leading to a greater amount of processing away from their natural states.
Eating well is good for your mental as well as your physical health and eating fruits and vegetables every day is key to optimal health. Foundational nutrition has 3 categories:
- Macronutrients: protein, fats, and carbohydrates – think of these as basic nutrition. Much of the protein that we consume today is combined with saturated fat.
- Micronutrients: vitamins and minerals – these work together with macronutrients. Our body cannot produce enough micronutrients on their own, and the typical diet doesn’t satisfy the demand for these nutrients.
- Phytonutrients: organic components found in plants that are thought to promote human health. These properties include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver-health-promoting activities.
Where do you begin?
Think of your body as a house and macronutrients, micronutrients and phytonutrients as the essential building blocks:
- Bricks – protein helps us grow and repair ourselves, and helps us stay energized, and build and maintain lean muscles.
- Mortar – vitamins and minerals create a strong foundation by performing hundreds of roles in the body to sustain life
- Security – phytonutrients help protect the integrity of the bricks and mortar
- Electricity – omega-3 fatty acids help support the health of our nervous and cardiovascular systems. On average, we only get 1.1 out of the recommended 7 oz. fish per week.
Everyone has the same basic nutritional needs, unfortunately, 80% of Americans aren’t getting the fruits and veggies they need from diet alone. Many wonders, do I need a multivitamin? According to Dr. Frank Lipman♦, the answer is a resounding YES!
Despite claims that the U.S has the best food supply in the world, most of us don’t obtain sufficient amounts of essential nutrients from that supply for two reasons: most Americans are making bad nutritional choices, and much of our food is nutritionally dead. The effect of bad eating habits combined with soil that’s largely depleted of nutrients makes it difficult to get enough of the necessary nutrients from just food alone. If most of your dinner has been genetically modified, grown in nutrient-depleted soil, sprayed with pesticides, processed, packaged and trucked to your neighborhood, by the time it hits your plate, your meal is almost devoid of nutritional value. The result? Our bodies, though overfed, are left starving. A good multi-vitamin can help pick up the slack.
Everyone could benefit from a high-quality, foundational supplements to help fill gaps. For the past 20 years, I continue to take a Nutrilite® supplement daily. Nutrilite® is the world’s leading brand of vitamin, mineral, and dietary supplements and has always included plant nutrients in its supplement formulas because of their health benefits to humans. Nutrilite’s® Double X® supplement has 20 plant concentrates which offer both a broad and a targeted antioxidant protection.
Supplements should not be used to replace a healthy diet. You should fill gaps if:
- Your diet doesn’t have 5–9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
- You get 5–9 servings, but don’t eat a wide variety to ensure full health benefits.
- You often don’t have time to make nutritionally complete meals.
- You often choose convenient, processed foods over healthier options.
Whatever your age, you can start making positive lifestyle changes today. Eating well can help you stay healthy, and look and feel great in the years to come. Remember to always consult with your doctor before trying any new supplements or treatments.
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To Your Success,
Althea
Althea A. McLeish Wilson, RN, MSN
Promoting inner health & outer beauty!
Helping you thrive, not just survive!!
PS. Inner Health & Outer Beauty Store: Health & Wellness with Althea♦
PPS. Did You Find This Helpful? If so, please feel free to share!! Leave a comment or contact me at althea@altheamcleish.com.
