What Is Nutrition Practice?
As a Personal Trainer, people ask me for guidance and consultation on nutrition. Take a moment to learn about food and calories or reinforce what you already know about eating healthy. Something to keep in mind is that all five components of Wave Physical Training are important, but if there is one that is vital, it's food intake.
In my career as a fitness professional I have studied nutrients to best meet the needs of my clients in many different ways.
Without good nutrition, we can't have optimal health. We know this, but it's hard to DO it. Even though we all have different
levels of understanding nutrition, it's always good to learn something new about food.
Eating healthy
I wrote this article to help you make better choices and understand why certain foods are healthier than others. I hope that you find this information interesting and helpful, so that you can revisit or rethink your eating plan or guidelines. If you are one of those people who eat just to eat for the joy of the food with no regards to the types of carbohydrates, fats, or the amount of simple sugar and protein that you ingest, let me assure you that you are headed straight towards obesity, clogged arteries, Type II diabetes, and kidney problems, just to name a few. After all, our health is at least partially determined by the nutrients we choose to consume.
Macro-nutrients
It's recommended that nutrition should be balanced with the combination of three macro-nutrients: Carbohydrates, protein and fats. The term macro-nutrient simply means that the nutrient is needed in large quantities for normal growth and development. Most important is the quality of the fresh, whole foods we eat. Many people know that eating a healthy diet is good for their bodies. Unfortunately, "Life" often gets in the way. During consultations my clients often describe schedules that barely allow them enough time to sleep, let alone eat healthy meals and exercise regularly. For them, grocery shopping, reading labels and preparing meals is out of the question when faced with life challenges and stress. It's important to understand that we won't find time to relax, exercise, and eat right, we must make time.
Caloric density
One reason why certain foods are better than others is because of the caloric value or caloric density. What this means is that there are foods that provide a longer, more sustainable energy in our bodies without any negative effects on our systems without caloric restriction. To give you an example, suppose you have two same size cups filled with 6 oz of liquids. One is a cup of plain black coffee and the other is organic orange juice. Although the cup of coffee "for most people" might give a wake up call right after drinking it, the calories in the OJ are more dense than the ones in the coffee. Now, if your 6 ounces of orange juice are processed and contain added sweeteners, OJ flavor and water; and if 3 of the 6 ounces of the cup of coffee are from milk and you add honey, your cup of coffee might have more dense calories than your "orange juice water". As a nutritionist I have learned to change the way I eat the same way I change the way I work out. No, I'm not a Registered Dietitian, but I consider myself a nutritionist; first of all because I love food, and second because anyone really can use this term.
Three questions I've been asked the most when I receive emails from clients:
Why are Trans Fats bad for me?
Trans Fats are unsaturated fatty acid that is converted into a saturated fat to increase the shelf life of some products. Saturated fats and Trans fats lead to clogging of the arteries, increased risk of heart disease, increased risk of heart disease, and a myriad of other problems.
Why does Protein help to build muscle?
Proteins build muscles because they are the building blocks of human and animal structure. To make it simple, protein does not only build muscle, it also serves innumerable functions in the human body including: the formation of the brain, nervous system, blood, muscle, skin, and hair. Protein transports iron, vitamins, minerals, fats and oxygen and it also helps in the maintenance of lactic acid and fluid balance among many others.
Why are carbohydrates the best energy source for endurance training?
...because carbohydrates are the body's primary source of energy. The role of carbohydrates in athletic performance may be better determined by its glycemic index, a measure of the rise of blood glucose "sugar". There has been much research in history suggesting that a diet based on eating high glycemic carbs promotes greater recovery and glycogen storage after a challenging workout.
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