If you have to make one small change to your food and eating habits, it would have to be introducing variety to your diet. This is the key to getting all the macro- and micro-nutrients that the body needs to keep the body going while preventing chronic diseases and improving our overall health and well-being. Having variety in your food is like a toolbox, each food ingredient will have a specific purpose and effect on your body. One will give you energy, for example, and another will store it. It's good to know how best to optimise yourself and get the best out of life staying healthy and being full of energy.
What are macronutrients?
Macronutrients are the nutrients that our bodies need in larger amounts to provide energy and support growth and development. These include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Carbohydrates are our bodies' main source of energy, and they come from foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and starchy vegetables like potatoes. Proteins are essential for building and repairing our muscles, organs, and tissues. Good sources of protein include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, and nuts. Fats are important for providing energy and supporting brain function. We should try to eat healthy fats, such as avocados, nuts, and olive oil, and limit our intake of unhealthy fats, like saturated and trans fats.
What are micronutrients?
In addition to macronutrients, micronutrients are also important for our health. These are the vitamins and minerals that our bodies need in smaller amounts to function properly. For example, vitamin C is important for boosting our immune system and helping our bodies heal. We can get vitamin C from foods like oranges, strawberries, and broccoli. Another important micronutrient is calcium, which is essential for building strong bones and teeth. We can get calcium from dairy products like milk and yogurt, as well as from leafy greens like kale and spinach.
Eating a variety of foods is important to make sure we get all the micronutrients and macronutrients our bodies need. If we only eat one type of fruit, like bananas, we may miss out on other important vitamins and minerals that are found in other fruits, like apples or oranges. Similarly, if we only eat one type of protein, like chicken, we may miss out on important amino acids that are found in other protein sources, like fish or beans.
To return to our toolbox, the metabolic balance ® programme is the box that will give you all the tools to maintain your machine at top condition. It is exactly the type of balanced healthy diet that can provide your body with all the nutrients it requires. Moreover, it is a programme that offers maximum personalisation and selects the right foods for your health based on your current medical condition.
Contact us to get your free consultation and discuss your health goals. For the next article, we will look deeper at the groups of macronutrients and how they affect the body.