How Important Food Nutrition Facts Are

It used to be that people would care only about what they ate when they suddenly felt something physically wrong, or got chronically weak or ill. Today this isn't the case and people tend to pay more attention now to food nutrition facts.

Each person is different in his or her nutritional requirement, depending on gender, age, level of activity, and other factors. It was through the examination of the nutrients and their amounts necessary for one's healthy diet that the first system of food nutrition facts was developed, and they took the form of what we now know as the food pyramid. Divided into six different groups of food, the food pyramid serves as a general guideline for everyone in what to consume.

At the base of the pyramid is the grain group which provides many nutrients such as B vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Whole grains are what you must look for to make sure you get the most out of this group. These include brown rice, grain flour, oatmeal, whole oats, whole rye, whole-grain corn, whole wheat or wild rice. Atop the grain group are the vegetables and fruits groups. No need to explain why you need them; surely you've heard one too many times how you're supposed to stock up on these two foods for better nourishment. For fruits it would be ideal to have them fresh and in season, but frozen, canned, and dried varieties are still healthy for you. The dairy group comes next, for the maintenance of healthy bones and the prevention of osteoporosis, from which three servings daily must be taken. Further above the pyramid is the meat, poultry and fish group rich in protein and other nutrients such as Vitamin E and B-complex, iron, magnesium and zinc and also omega-3 fatty acids from some fish. Lastly, at the very top of the pyramid are oils the sound of which word most may usually wince but which are really essential as well-as long as they are low in saturated fats.

Modern man has revolutionized the way we see and ingest different types of foods. We now know what nutrients can be digested from a single serving of chicken breast or a cup of broccoli or a can of tuna flakes. If you're a bodybuilder and you wanted more protein in your diet, you can easily walk along the aisle of canned meats in your local grocery store and read each item's label. What their ingredients are, what they do not contain which may have otherwise proved harmful to you, what nutrient was specially added, and most importantly, how much calories they supply and how much of their nutrients actually provide for your recommended daily allowance (RDA)-all those pieces of information and more are on the can and package labels we sometimes just take for granted, crumple, and throw away.
It is easy to get lost in today's society of gym goers, calorie counters, and weight watchers. But you can arm yourself with knowledge! Whoever said that awareness on such a topic as your health is bad? Learning about food nutrition facts in conjunction with having at least basic information on how to read food labels is just what you need to turn yourself into a careful food consumer!

With a lifelong passion for health, I enjoy sharing my personal experiences with diet and exercise. I also enjoy reviewing products, enjoy my latest reviews on what you need to know about which undermount bar sink [http://undermountbarsink.com] to choose for your kitchen, and purchasing a wall key holder for your home.
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