The four basic nutrients

Here is a little tiny lesson on what our bodies need. Since we are all learning-- myself included, I thought I would do some posts that will help educate on what it is our bodies need to function. We know in order to live we need a certain set of building blocks. In the image below you will find the four building blocks necessary for health.

This may seem obvious but many of us forget that we need water, protein, fats and carbohydrates in order to sustain our bodies. The tricky thing is to maintain balance, moderation and variety. Sure we all get protein, but what are the sources of that protein? Is it all meat? All dairy products? How about carbohydrates? Does your biggest source of carbohydrates from processed and refined products? And finally fats.  Fats can be a trap for many people. We hear "you shouldn't eat fats. But we have seen changes in this popular thought. It is all about sources. Fat are essential for our bodies to function-- good fats are also key in keeping a good body weight. In fact some fats are known to help you lose weight! Where do your fat sources come from? Meat? Dairy? Desserts? Hydrogenated oils?  

I know for me, before I began to eat healthy, I was getting the majority of all these essentials through things like ice cream, candy, white breads, meat ( salty, processed and cheap ) and very little from the colorful array of fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds. 

Now that you know what the four building blocks are, you may be a bit confused on where exactly they come from. You might ask... "well what is a healthy carbohydrate ?" or "what is a good source of fat ?".

Here are some great basics to pick and choose from!

{ Remember, there are plenty more sources of "good" fats, protein, and carbohydrates than I have mentioned here. These are some basic starter choices, they are GREAT! }

Remember, choosing the most natural source is best! Meat is not always the best choice for protein. The reason I say this is because.. are you ready for it... here is a hint that I have found useful -- Choose foods that are easiest to digest. 

Think about it. 

The harder something is to digest in your body, the more energy it will take your body to digest it. In turn you have spent more energy on digesting some foods than you got out of them. Meat isn't really one of those easily digestible foods. I am not saying to not eat meat, I am simply saying eat it less often. Your body will appreciate it. 

So next time you are out grocery shopping, remember your four main blocks. Water is easy! we can get it at home. So you only have three to worry about while shopping. 

FATS! PROTEIN! CARBOHYDRATES! We want to achieve a balance of these important building blocks in our diets. And we do his by selecting natural, whole and fresh sources!

Cheers!