NUTRITION 101

      Nutrition can get very complicated and confusing. I always try to make nutrition as simple as possible for all of my clients. So here are a few basics:

      FATS: There are many kinds of fats, which only makes the discussion about good fats and bad fats even more complex. Many people try low-fat or fat-free food products in an effort to lose weight. And for some people with certain health concerns a low-fat diet can be very beneficial. However, your body NEEDS fats to function normally. Fats are a very important dietary nutrient. Fats are very high in calories (about 9 cal per gram) so they should be consumed in moderation. Good sources of healthy fats are fish, nuts, and avocados.

       TRANS FAT: Trans fats are not naturally occurring fats. They serve no purpose as a nutrient your body needs. Bottom line, avoid trans fat at all costs. Your daily intake of this fat should be 0!

      CARBOHYDTRATES: Carbs make up a large portion of most people's diet. Carbs are very important for energy, as your body will easily burn them for fuel. However most people over consume carbs, which can lead to a positive energy balance. Adding to the problem many people consume to many processed carbs and simple sugars. The amount of sugar in a super-size soft drink is staggering. All this excess sugar will cause an insulin spike. And most of the sugar will then be stored as fat. Adding to the problem a high sugar soft drink will definetly not satisfy your hunger, thus most people will eat to excess. One of the easiest ways to improve your health and weight is to stay away from excess simple sugars.

      SUGAR ALCOHOL: Sugar alcohol is often found in 'low-sugar' or 'sugar-free' products. Once again sugar alcohol is not a naturally occurring sugar. It's a clever way of claiming food doesn't have as much sugar and won't cause changes in insulin. My personal opinion is to stay away from sugar alcohol at all costs. Trust me, your body does not want any sugar alcohol!

      PROTEIN: Protein is a very valuable nutrient. Unfortunately very few people actually eat enough to meet their personal requirements. While the debate between which diet is the best rages on, I personally like to take a higher protein diet approach.