Nutrition - The Basics

“ Man is What He Eats” – Lucretius.

We (the physicians, the educators, and the fitness coaches, to name a few of us) are doing a horrible job educating the public about Nutrition.

The food industry does not have the incentive to teach us about the health impact that the processed food they get so much profit from has. Educators and curriculum developers fund school programs with money from companies and groups that conflict with an honest Nutrition curriculum for our kids... imagine being taught that Gluten is terrible, only to go to the school cafeteria and only have pizza or burger for options.

Obesity and chronic health pandemics result from poor knowledge about better habits and the failure of those called to share the knowledge to alleviate the lack of knowledge.

As a physician interested in helping patients be in control of their well-being when talking about Nutrition, I recommend focusing on understanding the following:

1. Balanced diet: Eating a balanced diet means eliminating processed foods and eating as fresh as possible ingredients, including a variety of different foods from all of the food groups, such as vegetables, fruits, meat, and legumes.
2. Macronutrients: These are the nutrients that the body needs in large amounts to function properly. They include carbohydrates, protein, and fats.
3. Micronutrients: The nutrients the body needs in smaller amounts but are still essential for good health. They include vitamins and minerals.
4. Calories are units of energy the body uses to fuel its various functions. The number of calories a person needs depends on age, gender, weight, and activity level.
5. Water: Water is an essential nutrient needed for hydration and to help the body carry out its various functions.
6. Fiber: Fiber is a carbohydrate that the body cannot digest but is vital for maintaining digestive health and preventing constipation.

Knowing about Nutrition is a key to maintain health. Stress, Sleep and Exercise are the other keys which you can learn more about in our post about the Pillars of Health.