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Nutrition - the first step to a healthier life

First of all it is useful to start with the definition of the term nutrition. According to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term is of Latin origin and it means: "the act or process of nourishing or being nourished" or the intake processes by which a living being make use of food substances. Compared to just 100 years ago the percentage of obese people nowadays has reached in the Western hemisphere a staggering 30%.

There are several factors: the availability of larger and cheaper amounts of food, sedentary work in offices, unhealthy foods and beverages full of chemicals. Think for instance of the plastic bags thrown away at the edge of the forest. It will take decades for that plastic to decompose. The same problem, but at a smaller scale, takes place in our organism. Unnatural substances, chemicals are harder to brake down as our digestive system has not been built to process manmade substances but natural ones. And specialists say that is why we build up extra weight on our bodies, and we feel tired and moody.

Basically, any foods that have been tampered with either chemically or genetically influence our metabolism, and eventually our health. So the obvious step to take is to buy natural, unprocessed food, and put together the meals for you and your family yourself.

Your meals need to be balanced in terms of calories, vitamins and minerals. So the best thing to do is to read the labels, which is where you have the info on the constituents of a certain food. For vitamin intake, fresh fruits and vegetables are to be chosen. As for meat you should avoid especially pork, and replace it with healthier types of meat, fish, poultry, veal, lamb. Although drinking water does not sound to have much importance, drinking at least 5 glasses of water is essential. Water ensures the flow of food in your digestive system as well as to the elimination of toxins through urine or transpiration.

Some of you may think beer can do the same. The answer is no, even if it is rich in B and D vitamins. But you can bet on it if you want a beer belly. So if you want a healthier life and better looks you have to start with changing your diet.