Understanding Nutrition

Stroll down the aisle of any supermarket, and you’ll see all the manner of foods labeled with such claims as “low fat,” “low-carb,” “low-calorie,” and “fat-free.” Flip through the pages of just about any magazine, and you’re likely to find advice on how to lose weight. Walk into any gym, and you’ll probably hear members discussing the merits of one performance-enhancing food or another. All this boils down to the fact that nutrition has become part and parcel of the American lifestyle.

With the amount of nutrition information and the number of food alternatives always on the rise, choosing a healthful diet can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, you do not need a degree in nutrition to put the principles of the science to use in your own life. A basic understanding of nutrition can go a long way in helping you protect your health (and your wallet).

The choices you make about what to eat can have a profound impact on your health, both now and in your later years. The healthy eater resists disease and other stresses better than a person with poor dietary habits and is more likely to enjoy an active, vigorous lifestyle for a greater number of years. Healthier alternatives and small changes to a lot of our favorite recipes can go a long way!