Use The Nutrition Pyramid To Provide Your Body With What It Needs
This nutrition or food pyramid was devised in the USA and provides a list of those foods which are considered to be healthy. These foods are then able to provide your body with what it needs in order for it to carrying on working and helping you to remain fit and healthy. There are 4 levels that make up the pyramid and below we take a look at what these are and the foods that make up them.
Pyramid Base - This is made up of foods such as cereal, grain, pasta and bread which contain complex carbohydrates in them. These are essential part of any diet as they will help to provide your body with energy that it needs to function on a day to day basis. These are even more essential for people whose diets are very low in fat as they will help to protect the body as well. On average a person should be aiming to have between 6 and 11 servings of these each day.
Level 1 - This part of the pyramid is made up of fruit and vegetables and a person should be aiming to have between 3 and 5 servings of these particular each day. These foods are particular good as they contain essential vitamins such as A, C and D all of which are vital for our bodies to remain in good condition. A serving of these can be made up either of 1/2 cup of raw or cooked vegetables or an apple, banana or orange.
Level 2 - This part of the pyramid is made up of the dairy and meat products as well as eggs, beans and fish that are essential to the well being of our bodies. On average you should be aiming to have between 2 and 3 servings of these a day. As well as these foods providing your body with vitamins, they also provide it with protein and minerals including which is vital to sustain the bones in our body. For the meat, fish, eggs and beans you should be aiming for a serving of around 2 ounces. Also only, choose meat, which is lean.
Level 3 - This part of the pyramid is made up of those foods which you not include within your diet very often. The main foods included within this group are fats, oils and those which are sweet. only thing you are likely to be get from these is additional calories which your body will then have to burn off. When cooking try to avoid using any kind of fat including margarine or butter and cut back on the number of sodas that you drink. However, you don't need to cut out these foods completely.
Although we say, you should cut out fat from your diet you should not do so completely as your body uses it to help protect your organs. Plus it also helps to improve the health of your skin and your nails. Therefore, if you do need to go for oils in your diet go for ones such as olive oil.
By keeping the nutrition pyramid in mind when planning your dietary intake each day will help to ensure that you and your body remain fit and healthy for years to come. Often within a of weeks of keeping in mind the pyramids requirements you may soon find that your energy levels are improving and life is looking at whole lot rosier.