Working To Lower The Chances Of Disease With Power Foods

Nothing is worse than hitting 40 and realizing you're the ideal candidate for heart disease, which is the #1 killer for Americans. Sure, you liked your eggs benedict for breakfast and your steak for dinner, but who doesn't? Now you have to count cholesterol levels, beware of trans fat levels and eat more vitamin-enriched foods to ensure heart health. It may seem like a hassle at first, but you may find that some of the alternatives are actually quite delicious!

For snackers, texture is a big thing. You love the crunch of a potato chip or the way a chocolate chip cookie just sort of melts in your mouth. The good news is that one of the power foods on our list has just the crunch you need to feel satisfied: almonds! Two ounces or 48 of these tasty nuts will give you 50% of your daily magnesium, which ensures heart health, as well as providing vitamin E, fiber and monosaturated fat, which is the good kind. One study last year found that participants who ate 2.5 ounces of almonds per day lowered their cholesterol significantly after just one month! Other studies suggest a link between almonds and reducing the risk of colon cancer.

If you've got a sweet tooth, then you may find that watermelon quenches your need for sugary foods. This juicy "summer day" fruit contains beta-cryptoxanthin, which lowers cholesterol. It also has 20% of your daily vitamin A and vitamin C, in addition to providing you with an absorbable form of lycopene, which lowers heart disease and cancer risks. Similarly, blueberries are another amazing fruit that has been known to boost dopamine levels and your mood, as well as providing an anti-oxidant toxin-removal service and improving memory/coordination functions.

Perhaps you find that warm foods and drinks make you feel naturally happier. Maybe you're a reformed coffee junkie. Instead, why not try a cup of tea? Chai tea is a delicious blend of vanilla, cinnamon and comforting spices. Generally black and green teas are the most doctor-recommended for fighting breast, lung and digestive cancers and heart disease. Additionally, a hot cocoa can provide you with antioxidant flavonoids, which fight heart disease and cancer, will reduce toxins in the blood and improve cholesterol ratios.

"More than anything else you do, the way you eat tells your body how healthy you want to be," says Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., a physician in Tucson, Ariz., and author of Food As Medicine. Today, it's easier to eat healthy foods, with public attention shifting towards more diet-conscious meals, restaurants using less cream and fatty butter and websites like sparkspeople.com acting as a personal diet coach. You may have to say goodbye to a few of your favorite victuals, but once you realize what you liked most about that food, be it the texture, salt, sugar or a certain soothing quality, you will be able to find an adequate replacement.

 

As we become older there are crucial numbers that start to weigh to a great extent upon us. We have to worry about our weight, levels of cholesterol, as well as our blood pressure. Things we may have ignored our entire lives now suddenly they have significant importance. But these are some of the thing that should not have been pushed aside. A lifetime of abuse on the body yields simply unfavorable things when left unrestrained.

 

Your cholesterol level is absolutely critical if you want to remain in good health and your body operating the right way. High levels has the ability to lead lead to heart attacks as well as stroke, both of these things you do not want to have to contend with. Being mindful about your cholesterol level is not just for the aging. It is something both young as well as old need to be concerned with as well as be cognisant of if they hope to to conduct a healthy life. In this article we will cover the fundamentals of cholesterol and hopefully you will understand just how significant a healthy level is to your body as well as peace of mind.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a lipid that is found in the bloodstream of humans and all animals. It can be there from two different sources. The first source is your body itself. The body naturally produces cholesterol. The second source of cholesterol is the food that we eat. It may surprise you to know that not all cholesterol is bad for you. There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. But you have to know the difference if you want to protect your health and your heart.

What types of medicines are given for high cholesterol?

Obviously the first choice of physicians is exercise and a healthy diet low in trans fats. But when that does not work or there is a high level of LDL present then medications must be brought in to help. There are many different types of medicines currently being used to treat high cholesterol. The goal of each type of medicine is to lower the amount of LDL present in the blood stream and to help remove blockage and build up that has occurred. Some of these medicines are statins, bile acid resins, and nicotinic acid and fibric acid derivatives.

In what way is the obstruction from the arteries withdrawn?

The first stage is through medicines however if there is a acute constricting or occlusion in the artery or blood vessel then a somewhat more intrusive procedure is required. The actual processes might change however one common method is done through the use of a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is inserted into the artery and then naviagted to the blockage where the plaque build up has occurred. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the routine is minimally intrusive and most patients are capable of going home that day.

Does a diet rich in fish really help lower my cholesterol?

You may be surprised but a diet rich in fish, particularly salmon, can help you lower your overall LDL cholesterol while helping raise the HDL cholesterol. It is the omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to help the body. But do not stop at just salmon. There are other great foods that can help you reduce your LDL's and raise your HDL's such as: avocados, garlic, black beans, uncooked soy and even Shitake mushrooms.

For added useful information click here High Cholesterol Zocor also High Cholesterol Levels and High Cholesterol Diet

Why Should You Eat Alfalfa?

Alfalfa is a pretty popular herb however not a lot of people know much about what healthy benefits you can can get from it and research has proven that Alfalfa might lower blood levels of cholesterol and glucose. Many take Alfalfa supplements orally and is has been proven safe except in a small percentage of people where it produces lupus like symptoms. The problem only happens if you eat the seeds and sprouts and it's because of an amino acid called L-canavanine. However, this is not present in the leaves of the Alfalfa.  Overall Alfalfa is good for you.

The Chinese have been using Alfalfa for many hundreds of years to help with fluid retention and swelling. The Arabs were the first to find Alfalfa and they named it "the father of all foods." If you take the leaves you will enjoy the benefits of a number of vitamins and minerals, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, and carotene.

Not only does it help as a diuretic it's also good as a laxative. It also works well for urinary tract infections, and kidney, bladder and prostrate disorders. A number of studies have been carried out and one of the latest discoveries is that it can help with cholesterol because there are certain agents in Alfalfa that stick to cholesterol which keeps it from remaining in the blood stream.

A lot of people spend way too much money buying all sorts of herbal products when they can really enjoy actual foods such as Alfalfa. Add it to your salads.  Eating healthy is also important for skin care.

Do you like to drink different types of tea?  You can also drink it as a tea whereby you steep the leaves in some hot water. The tea is not only made for human consumption because people who grow Irises and Delphiniums just love Alfalfa tea because of the great effect that it has on the plants when used as a foliar spray. By creating a mulch with Alfalfa you will also have very healthy plants.

Antioxidant Foods

Antioxidant Foods Video

Fighting cancer using natures help requires the use of antioxidant foods; substances found in many plants, fruits and vegetables. Phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables work together with other nutrients to protect your health. Although only nine hundred if these phytonutrients have been discovered so far it is the scientist opinion that many more will be found and will change tomorrows health care needs; with these discoveries (and more to come), scientists believe the face of healthcare is changing, hopefully forever.

There have been a huge number of health benefits discovered so far from many well known foods; pomegranates for example, contain many different properties whilst blueberries have compounds which affect the aging process.

Unrecognized for many years, the properties contained in the blueberry are only just now being appreciated with many antioxidant compounds contained in a fruit with very low sugar content. The easiest way to inject concentrated amounts of these fruits is by drinking juice every day; regular consumption can help our circulation and increase our ability to combat illness.

Not content with helping to prevent illness, these antioxidants also help fight disease and infection. The old saying about an apple-a-day couldn't be truer with evidence that they can help prevent the chance of heart conditions occurring.

Now citrus fruits too are showing that they have a use with a number of beneficial phytochemicals contained in them. Tart cherries can also provide anti-inflammatory benefits to people who suffer with conditions that cause pain in and around the joints. Most of us have already heard about the benefits that certain minerals and vitamins like B, c and E provide which have now become widely used in products. Another group of antioxidants called Phytoalexins (resveratrol) found in many berries can prevent infection and have anti-viral properties.

Many people with other aging conditions prevalent around the world, for instance: heart attacks, stroke and Alzheimer's can all benefit when these compounds are used. The humble tomato has also been under scrutiny with benefits it has guarding against certain cancers and heart problems.

Although quite large quantities are needed so using tomato juice, puree or sauce which are all concentrates has been found to be the best way to increase the level of the antioxidants in our food. More recently the refreshing watermelon has been discovered to contain some of the most beneficial phytonutrients yet seen. We are told to eat more fruit and now there is a very good scientific reason to do this.

Find more information on health and fitness go to How to Lose Weight Naturally

Contribution to the Formulation of Exfuze - Acai

eXfuze HD Inspiration eXfuze 7+ Exfuse Seven

Finally its celebration time!! Your wait for a drink which celebrates your life is here. The drink of our time and the drink of the future have arrived. Exfuze, a proven natural drink with most of the renowned botanical substances is what the people are talking about at the moment. A health drink with super foods and supported by numerous clinical studies is Exfuze seven plus.

Exfuze distinguishes itself from other health drinks, as it presents a combination of valuable supplements derived from natural fruits and herbs which are indigenous to different parts of the world. The drink has come to be known as the Exfuze seven plus because it is a combination of seven of the world’s most renowned of herbs with high nutritional value. One of the most important components of Exfuze seven plus is Acai or Amazon’s “super berry” as it is locally called. Botanically Acai is known as Euterpe oleracea and it belongs to the family of Arecaceae, a family to which most of the palms belong.

Acai is highly nutritious and a storehouse of antioxidants which helps in building the natural defense mechanism of the body against disease and germs. Its fatty acid content is high too and helps to maintain the cholesterol level of the blood. Studies have shown that being a fruit rich in antioxidants, it restricts harmful free radicals which destroy human cells. Antioxidant, precisely anthocyanidin, present in these fruits destroy cancer cells, restore stamina, and increases vigor.

For all these properties Acai has been included as a key component of Exfuze seven Plus. Hence drinking Exfuze Seven Plus will help people to develop resistance against the harmful pollutants. Moreover, appropriate cholesterol level maintained by this drink minimizes the risk of strokes and other ailments and keeps your heart healthy.

The Exfuze Seven Plus therefore comes as an energy booster and revitalizer to people who are feeble and weak and in no position to regain their youthful vigor at an older age. Also, Acai contributes in the form of a digestive relief. Acai is rich in fiber content and this plays an immense role in regulating the intestinal tract and promotes regular bowel movements and hence prevents any form of malignant disease of the colon. Acai being one of the components in its composition of Exfuze seven plus does wonders in elderly people who suffer from chronic digestive problems. Exfuze seven plus can work wonder on removing body pains and can sooth muscle strains.

So here is a drink with Acai and six other valuable components, namely Fucoidan, Goji berry, Seabucthorn, GAC fruit, Noni fruit, and Mangosteen fruit along with some herbs and goodness of pomegranate and aloe, which has come to give a pain free life. You would love every drop of the drink. For every person – the ones who had just had an operation or one who needs to recover soon, to every single man who wants to live a life strong and happy, Exfuze Seven Plus is just the right choice for you.

Experts have termed it as the “Next Generation Super Food”. So come, drink Exfuze Seven Plus and feel better and enjoy a healthier life. Check out a free sample at www.JuicedupWorld.com or for more research go to www.juiceduplife.info

Female Bodybuilding Diet

For a female bodybuilding fan, a disadvantage compared to men is that they don't produce enough testosterone. It is important to have a very strong diet to be successful in this sport. That means they have to take advantage of every little aspect of our anatomy to get results that are worth wild. Diet happens to be one of the most important aspects of this. You're going to need to be a very long term oriented thinker because this is going to a lot of consistent behavior on your part for months.

You have to eat properly to get the right results. Even if your workout is the best the results will still be bad, if you're not eating properly to support the body’s proper development.

Eat Smaller Meals More Often: This is a sound rule that you will find in bodybuilding diets for women and men. The reason for it is that it keeps a consistent flow of nutrients into the body, so you properly repair muscles throughout the day. The second reason is that when your body is put into a constant state of digestion, your metabolism increases. This allows you to put on the muscle mass without having to put on a lot of fat with it. You have to stop eating 3 times a day. This is just a waste of potential. You need to eat every 3 hours. The reason is so simple; you'll think you were stupid for missing it. Your muscles repair every second of every hour. Your body needs the nutrients to repair muscle tissue at all hours of the day. When you wait long periods of time to eat, your body doesn't have the nutrients to properly repair. By eating more often, your body is always in the position of having what it needs to repair muscle.

Another important aspect of the female bodybuilding diet is breakfast. Don't be afraid to have a big breakfast. It has the ability to boost your metabolism all day long. If the meal is too small, you won't have that effect, so make sure it is big.

Eating very little or excessive protein:Protein is the basic building block that your muscles use to grow in size. It can be found mostly in meat, dairy and nut products. This is also the most important part of body building food that you will need in order to succeed as a bodybuilder. Exercise stimulates your body into using protein to build muscle, and larger muscles burn more fat. Chicken, tuna, eggs, and lean red meat are the sources of protein that you'll be drawing on the most. While high in protein, these foods also are low in trans fats, which are not good for the cholesterol. Also be choosy when finding the right kinds of protein shakes for a morning or after work out meal. Many of the shakes out there are 90% less effective than what you'd think. Consult your trainer on what brand they recommend.

Eat A Meal High In Carbohydrate Before You Workout: The reason for this is simple, carbohydrates are you energy food. You need to have intense hard workouts to put on muscle tissue. Your bodybuilding diet needs to fulfill the needs for you to put on muscle and the needs for you to have good bodybuilding workouts.

Water is probably one of the most important ingredients for life. Over 70% of our muscles consist of water. Water is needed for all metabolic processes, including protein synthesis. It helps get rid of toxins, it is important in fat metabolism and it can reduce fluid retention. A good rule of thumb is to drink 10 cups of water per day, increasing it during the summer months and during hardcore training sessions. Even the slightest bit of dehydration can make you feel sluggish and hold you back during your training sessions. Never ignore water intake!!

The female bodybuilding diet also requires you to eat a protein and fat combination before bed. Obviously muscle will repair while you sleep and you need to some how keep them with an abundance of nutrients. By eating protein and fat, the digestive process slows down, so the protein is digested slowly throughout the night.

 

The Good, Bad and Ugly of Antibiotics

We have many advances in our health care we can be thankful for today. Before the 1900’s the top related causes of death were due largely to contaminated food and water as well as an deficient housing and waste disposal system. Once we began to understand more about the invisible world full of bacteria, things like indoor plumbing and the sterilization of medical instruments were established. As time has passed, we have become more and more conscience about our personal hygiene. This has resulted in a significant decrease in infectious diseases.

However, while there has been a significant decrease in deaths due to infectious diseases, starting with the introduction of penicillin in the 1940’s, new issues within the disease related causes of death cropped up. Instead of dying of many infectious diseases, death from serious chronic conditions has gotten out of control. The main causes of death are not from poor hygiene, they are dying from the lack of something else.

And this is where our discussion turns to the endangered internal species as a result of antibiotics. The undeniable truth of this problem is – the destruction of bad bacteria by means of antibiotics also kills our wonderful probiotic bacteria friends.

While antibiotics have helped us eliminate so many diseases, the constant abuse of these medications, which includes prescribing them for illnesses that are virus related, such as the flue or even the common cold. Virus related illnesses are those that antibiotics cannot help. So, while sick with something non-bacterial you are killing off your bodies means of keeping it’s immune system in top condition, which only leads to being more susceptible to other illnesses.

With the misuse of antibiotics comes the introduction of the antibiotic resistant bacteria. This has produced a cycle that keeps getting worse. Drug companies continue to manufacture and develop stronger antibiotics and the abuses such as mentioned above continue to happen. It is a never ending cycle that is become quite frightening when you learn about the consequences.

So, where does this leave us? What is the solution?

It is not a secret that both bad and good bacteria are destroyed when taking these medications. If doctors know that antibiotics destroy our healthy flora, how come they don’t follow up their prescriptions with probiotics?

Although antibiotics have really reeked havoc on good bacterial growth, we have added to their damage by our more modern lifestyles. Fast food, soda, diet products, processed foods and the total lack of eating well-balanced meals are also to blame. We are living in a world of convenience which is running at a very fast pace. This causes a great deal of stress, lack of proper amounts of sleep, emotional distress and so forth. Our bodies are simply bombarded day in and day out. Our factory of health is exhausted. And we have only ourselves to blame.

So, how do we fix this problem? The answer is simple.

Helping our intestinal tract is just a matter of introducing the probiotics our bodies have lost and continue to lose daily. We can do this by adding into our diets the fruits, vegetables, yogurts and other foods that contain a wide variety of probiotics. We can also add them by way of probiotic powders, probiotic liquids and probiotic supplements.

In the next article I’ll be talking about some of the more common foods that we can buy to encourage our healthy probiotic bacteria to grow and outnumber the bad bacteria.

Article by Kimberly Shannon. If you missed the first article on probiotics you can find it at our breast cancer support site.

 

L-Arginines Health Benefits

 

L-Arginine is a dietary substance and an amino acid that helps the body rid itself of ammonia and is used to make such compounds in the body as creatine and glutamate. It is possible to convert it to glucose and glycogen when needed. The health benefits of this substance are many. Research has found that the supplementation of Arginine may help alleviate atherosclerosis and erectile dysfunction. It is involved in the formation of protein and in larger amounts it stimulates the release of growth hormones and prolactin.

One of the most prominent health benefits of L-Arginine is its use in patients who can benefit from increased blood flow, such as erectile dysfunction and heart disease. It is used in the manufacture of nitric oxide, this is found to increase blood flow by reducing blood vessel stiffness and improves blood vessel function. Increased blood flow due to arginine makes it a possible use in cases of erectile dysfunction. It helps dilates the penis' blood vessels, this increased blood flow helps sustain an erection. It increase circulation and blood flow in the body, this is why it is thought to be such a good aid for people with erectile dysfunction and heart disease. L-Arginine is also used in the care of and relief from arthritis symptoms as it is a component of collagen. Collagen is vital in the production of new bone cells and tissue. For this reason, it is also thought to promote the rapid healing of wounds, especially bones.

Athletes take advantage of the health benefits of L-Arginine due to the amino acid’s ability to promote the release of human growth hormone, which enhances energy and endurance in the body. Athletes also use it to increase the production of insulin and creatine phosphate, which is thought to increase lean muscle mass and enhanced fat loss. L-Arginine has also shown to be helpful in the healing of wounds and injuries as well as found to be particularly useful in the healing of bones.

The health benefits of L-Arginine are many. This essential amino acid with many known properties and functions, some may include the stimulation of growth hormone and improved immune function, plus reduction of hjealing time for injures and aid in muscle gain and fat loss.

Nutrition Facts For The Elderly

stress nutrition

Healthy eating and stress nutrition for the elderly is greatly impacted by several factors, one of them
being a change in body composition.  During the later years in life, the body will lose bone and
muscle and gain fat because the hormones aren't very active anymore.

There are many factors which hinder an elderly person's health.  The information below will help
you to lead a healthy life - no matter how old you may be.

Water

Water in the body decreases with age, so many older folks will become dehydrated very easily.  Sometimes they won't feel thirsty, while other times it's too much work to pour a glass a water.  With this in mind, it's recommended that they drink at least 1 ounce of water for every 2.2 pounds of weight.

Protein

At this stage in life, good sources of protein is very important. Protein is needed to support a healthy immune
system and prevent the wasting of muscle.  Since energy needs are less, older folks should eat high quality protein such as eggs, lean meats, poulty,
and fish.

Carbs and fiber

Good carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the entire body.  You can find carbs in bread,
cereals, pasta, and other grain products.  A diet that's high in fiber and water will help to  prevent constipation as well.

Fat

Fat intake for the elderly should be limited, not eliminated.  You can limit fat by choosing lean meats, low fat dairy products, and food preperation methods that don't include frying. 

Iron

For the elderly, iron deficiency can be seen with those who aren't eating much.  Good sources for iron include lean red meats or breakfast cereals.

Zinc

Zinc intake is normally with the elderly, and to make matters worse, it's not absorbed very well
either.  Meat, poultry, and fish should be a part of your diet to help you meet the requirements for zinc.

Calcium

Calcium is one ingredient that most elderly folks simply aren't getting enough of.  Most believe
that milk upsets their stomach, and therefore they will avoid it.  They should be getting around 1,500 mg of calcium a day, and nonfat powdered milk can be used in recipes as a substitute for milk.  Other foods such as yogurt, low fat cheese, and broccoli can also help you meet the requirements for calcium.

Vitamin B12

In order to absorb the benefits of B12, the intrinsic facotr must be produced by the stomach.  Most elderly people suffer from a deficiency in B12 because they have a condition known as atrophic gastritis.  This condition causes inflammation of the stomach, bacterial overgrowth, and the intrinsic factor. Without the intrinsic factor, this vitamin can be absorbed.

Each one of the above nutrients are needed to keep an aged body in good health.  Elderly individuals should try to stay active and strive for a well balanced diet.  Even though the aged body isn't the same as it used to be, proper care and the right nutrients can help the elderly enjoy a healthy and long life.

The Cure For The Common Cold and Flu

The usual routine for most for any given winter is, especially if you forget your flu shot is this. Get cold or flu like symptoms and keep them on and off for a month or so. Certainly this is no way to live. We all live in a very fast paced world and we really need to be on the move and get things done. We don’t have time for down time. Right?

The cure for the common cold is something that has eluded mankind for thousands of years. Chicken soup Vitamin C and a host of other natural remedies have been used for years to fight this formidable foe. But that is all that other remedies can do, try to make the suffering a bit better. What this simple cure does is to put the BAM on the cold or flu.  It effect annihilates it! I noticed another very interesting benefit.  After several years of doing this I have confirmed that this also works like a flu shot, making you immune to any bug that comes along for about 5 months or so. Now that’s cool!

So what is this miracle cure? Garlic. Yes Garlic. I have been amazed at how so many nutritionists and health conscious people like Jack La Lane referred to Garlic as Natures antibiotic. So, One day my wife and I were working and had an upcoming event, which we really needed to be well for. We just couldn’t be sick! So what could we do…Huuuuum. We remembered the power of Garlic and made a juice consisting of:

Handful of Garlic cloves
1 Small Carrot
1 Tomato
Honey
1/2 cup Lemon Juice

Also:
Raisin Bran with milk or soy milk

We put all of the ingredients, accept for the honey and lemon juice through our juicer and drank it. Then add the honey and lemon juice after which you drink it.   Immediately after this, eat the bowl of Raisin Bran Cereal.  The cereal helps you to keep the juice down.

By the next day all cold and flu symptoms should be eradicated.

There are of coarse some possible negative side affects:

1. Some erupting
2. You will smell like Garlic the next day which means sleeping on the couch. Suggestion: Drink this on a night where you know that the next day you will not come in contact with many People. Hay no remedy is perfect. I just make a joke about it for example: Yah just take me and rub me on your toasted bread… etc.

Remember that this juice may taste bad for a few moments but the positive effects are far reaching.

There are of coarse some Positive side affects:
1. You eradicate the Cold/Flu from your body.
2. You enjoy immunity from other colds for about 5 months.

Note.  I have been doing this for several years now and it really works.  The only time that I start to get flu like symptoms is at the end of the 5 months!  This is the time for a booster shot of the juice.  I only do this two times per year.  Being a teacher I come in contact with allot of bugs and its nice to know that for the most part I am immune from all of the sickness going around.

It however, may be that what you really need is a detox or a colon cleanse.  If this this case may I suggest Master Cleanse Secrets.

If you develop cold sores.  If this this case I suggest: "Cold sore freedom in 3 days".

PLEASE NOTE: Always remember Consult with your Doctor before trying this or any of the other natural remedies that you might decide to try from this Site. And of course your results may vary. Thank You.

Essential Nutritional Information

nutritional supplement

When most people eat, they may not consider the food they put into their bodies is not only fuel for energy, its nutritional value helps ward off chronic systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, prevents deficiencies and curbs issues like obesity and weight gain and metabolic syndrome. There are seven major classes of nutrients we must consume or face serious illness and even death. They are vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water and fiber. Let's break down the nutritional information available.

Today's food labels list the nutritional information of the product inside to help you better evaluate the nutrient content in a single serving of a food item. It is provided by law and uses established daily values to compare foods from product to product on a consistent basis, as well as providing the nutrient and energy information of the food.

Fats

Fats are composed of fatty acids bonded to a glycerol. Fat is classified as either saturated or unsaturated. Generally, saturated fat is solid at room temperature while unsaturated fat is a liquid. Unsaturated fats may be further classified as mono-unsaturated or poly-unsaturated. Trans fats are saturated fats which are typically created from unsaturated fat by adding the extra hydrogen atoms in a process called hydrogenation.

Fiber

Dietary fiber consists mainly of cellulose that is indigestible because we do not have enzymes to digest it. Fruits and vegetables are high in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is important because it provides bulk to the intestinal contents and stimulates peristalsis - the rhythmic muscular contractions passing along the digestive tract.

Water

About 70% of the non-fat mass of the human body is made of water. Normally, about 20 percent of water intake comes from food, while the rest comes from drinking water and beverages. Water is excreted from the body in many forms; through urine and feces, through sweating, and by exhalation of water vapor in the breath.


Minerals

Dietary minerals are the chemical elements required by living organisms, and are present in common organic molecules. They include macro-minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sodium, as well as trace minerals such as cobalt, copper, chromium, iodine, iron, manganese, nickel and zinc. Nutritional supplements are available to

Carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates take longer to metabolize since their sugar units are processed one-by-one off the ends of the chains. Simple carbohydrates are processed quickly and thus raise blood sugar levels more quickly resulting in rapid increases in blood insulin levels compared to complex carbohydrates.

Protein

Protein is composed of amino acids that are our body's structural materials like muscles, skin and hair. The body requires amino acids to produce new body protein and to replace damaged proteins that are lost in the urine. Amino acid requirements are classified in terms of essential and non-essential amino acids. Consuming a diet that contains adequate amounts of essential amino acids is particularly important for growing animals.

Vitamins

As of 2005, twelve vitamins and about the same number of minerals are recognized as "essential nutrients", meaning that they must be consumed and absorbed in nutritional supplement form - or, in the case of vitamin D, alternatively synthesized via UVB radiation - to prevent deficiency symptoms and death.

In the US, nutritional information standards and recommendations are currently controlled by the US Department of Agriculture. Dietary and exercise guidelines from the USDA are presented as the food pyramid, which supersedes the four food groups.