March is National Nutrition Month. Here Are The Nutrition Basics You Shouldn't Forget.
Paleo. Vegan. Keto. Whole 30. With all the different diets flooding your Instagram feeds, it can be easy to forget the basics of nutrition. You might be able to explain ketosis, but can you name all the parts of the food pyramid? Do you know how much water you’re actually supposed to drink in a day? Can you identify the aliases sugar often hides behind? In honor of National Nutrition Month, the Habyt wants to remind you of the food facts that are too often forgotten.
Don’t skip breakfast. Intermittent fasting work may work for some people, but it’s called the most important meal of the day for a reason. Starting your day with a healthy breakfast (lean protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables) will boost your energy and keep you feeling full.
The food pyramid is old news. Yup, the traditional food pyramid is out and kids now learn about MyPlate, which focuses on a meal’s variety, amount, and nutrition. It might be aimed at children, buut the concepts are just as important for adults.
Half your plate should be fruits and veggies, with a heavier emphasis on the vegetables. The more colors, the better.
A quarter of your plate should be grains, ideally whole grains.
The last quarter should be your protein
Diary is a meal add-on. Move to low-fat or fat-free milk and yogurt to get the recommended calcium serving.
Drink and eat less sodium, saturated fats and added sugars.
Drink 8 glasses of water. This is a good general baseline. However, specific daily water intake can vary based on diet, activity level, and weight.
Beware of sneaky sugars. Sugar is a master of disguise and has over 50 alternative names. There are common names like fructose (and other words that end in -ose) and most ingredients that include the word syrup. Then there are some tricky ones like maltodextrin, diastatic malt, and acesulfame potassium.
Know your nutrients. There are six types of nutrients: carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. Each one serves an important function, but carbohydrates, fat, and protein are the real heavy hitters. These are macronutrients and they are the foundation of The Habyt’s macro-coaching method.
With The Habyt, you’ll learn why carbohydrates, fat, and protein are so important and how they work to keep your body healthy and strong. Education at The Habyt goes beyond the basics and takes a deep dive into what works for YOU. You’ll get personalized tips and suggestions that will help build your nutrition knowledge and understand your body and habits so you can hit your body goals.
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