Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! I thought we would start with a basic discussion about nutrition and how we know what to eat and how much to eat. First of all, what is nutrition? Nutrition is the science of the foods we eat and the nutrients they contain. To understand nutrition, it helps to have some background in biology, physiology, chemistry, and biochemistry. I understand that most of you don't have a background in some or any of these areas, which is why I am here. There are two types of nutrients: Macronutrients and Micronutrients. Macronutrients (Macro=more) are the nutrients that are needed in large amounts and they include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Micronutrients (Micro=less) are needed in smaller amounts and they include your vitamins and minerals. Energy is yielded in calories, or as I will refer to them, kilocalories. Carbohydrates contribute 4 kilocalories per gram, proteins also contribute 4 kilocalories per gram, fats contribute 9 kilocalories per gram, and alcohol, which is not a nutrient, contributes 7 kilocalories per gram. I will dig into the nitty gritty of the macronutrients and micronutrients later, but for now let's talk about how much we need to eat. Most people have heard to the food guide pyramid or the my pyramid, but did you know they are now both extinct? Now, we had the Choose My Plate guide and you can find more about it here. This is an excellent tool because it shows us how much we need to eat without any numbers. We are visual learners and this tool is very helpful. Hope this helps you get started, and I will see you soon.
P.S. Ask questions!!!
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