Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that has several physiological effects on the body. Found naturally in citrus fruits, green vegetables and tomatoes, vitamin C helps form cartilage, bone and collagen. Vitamin C also has antioxidant properties, protecting cells from free radicals.
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The body needs protein to build new cellular tissue, restore damaged tissue and prevent tissue breakdown during physical activity. All meat products contain protein, and most deli meats supply a fair amount of this nutrient per serving.
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"The most important goal for weight loss is to achieve a negative calorie balance. ... The focus is on calories," says Kristin Reimers, Ph.D., in her chapter on nutrition in the National Strength and Conditioning Association's "Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning." However, Jane E.
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Your body needs a blend of carbohydrates, protein and fat to fuel its physical activity and metabolic needs. While there is no perfect balance for everyone, the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine provides a range of your total caloric intake that is acceptable for each nutrient.
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Cashews are legumes and contain an abundance of nutritional benefits, including all three macronutrients -- carbohydrates, protein and fat -- and numerous vitamins and minerals. As their name suggests, salted cashews contain more sodium than raw cashews, which can be a nutritional disadvantage.
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Minerals play vital roles in the regulation of enzymes, hormones and the function of vitamins. Calcium and magnesium are both major minerals, or those that your body requires in excess of 100 mg each day.
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The DASH diet is an acronym for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Following this diet can help lower blood pressure, coronary disease risk and risk of stroke by 5 to 8 percent in individuals with hypertension, according to "Essentials of Exercise Physiology."
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Carbohydrates and lipids are both macronutrients and provide several key functions to the human body. These nutrients have similar chemical structures and the body uses carbohydrates and lipids in similar ways.
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Wasabi peas are a popular Japanese-inspired snack made from dried peas and flavored with wasabi, a condiment made from cabbage, horseradish and mustard. Raw green peas offer a substantial amount of nutritional value, and retain much of this nutrition in their dehydrated, wasabi-flavored form.
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Lager beers vary from brewery to brewery, but the term lager generally refers to a beer that is fermented with yeast at much lower temperatures than other styles. The lager brewing process was first developed in Germany and has become one of the most popular styles of beer in the United States.
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Hotdogs as we typically know them are a carryover from the German "frankfurters," or pork sausages served in a bun. Hotdogs are now available in beef, beef and pork mixtures and even turkey or chicken. The classic pork hotdog is a blend of pork, fat and grain-based fillers.
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Chicken offers a rich source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. It tends to be a bit lower in fat and saturated fat than red meat, but with a similar protein content. The breast is the leanest cut of the chicken, and it contains the least amount of sodium and cholesterol.
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Carbohydrates are macronutrients that play a vital role in supplying your body with the energy it needs to support its daily functions. Your body needs about twice the amount of carbohydrates as it does fat, and about three times that of protein.
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Your body needs fat for energy, and to store vitamins, protect organs, regulate hormone production and assist with numerous other functions. Fat should account for a portion of your total calories, with protein and carbohydrates representing the rest.
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Protein serves as the building block of all your body's cells. It helps repair and build new cellular tissue, oxygenates your blood and plays an indirect role in numerous other functions. Protein is one of three macronutrients you need to consume in sufficient amounts to support your energy needs.
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Caffeine is a mild stimulant that sparks the body's natural "fight or flight" response. Caffeine causes the adrenal gland to secrete fluid, which is why you feel a sudden rush after drinking a cup of coffee.
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Protein, fats and carbohydrates are macronutrients that are essential to a healthy diet. Macronutrients need to be consumed in large supplies in the diet to provide energy, promote growth and maintain healthy organs and tissues.
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Fiber is an indigestible form of roughage commonly found in fruits and vegetables. Switching to Cheerios for breakfast is one of the best ways to obtain more fiber in your diet, notes the Mayo Clinic. A diet high in fiber is a key component to all-around health, and can reduce the risk of many diseases.
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