Questions About Healthy Eating

1. Mel's question: "I keep reading about the importance of getting the proper nutrients in the food I eat. What exactly are the nutrients I need?"
Your response to Mel's question: The nutrients you need are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water.

2. Ameera's questions: "I heard that eating foods rich in carbohydrates is recommended for healthy living. What are carbohydrates, and what do they do for the body? What foods should I eat to increase my intake of carbohydrates?"
Your response to Ameera's questions: Carbohydrates are the starches and sugars present in food. They are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Carbohydrates are the body's main energy source, the body converts the carbohydrates into glucose and uses it right away or stores it away glycogen for later use. You should eat fruit, milk, whole grains, seeds, nuts, legumes like dried peas or beans, and tubers such as potatoes.

3. Joel's question: "My doctor suggested that I increase my intake of protein. What foods would you suggest I eat?"
You response to Joel's question: I would suggest you eat soybean products like tofu, animal products like lean ground beef, chicken, fish, lentils, eggs, beans, peas, nuts, peanut butter and whole grains to increase you protein intake.

4. Mei Lin's question: "I always thought that eating fat was bad for you. Now I read that some fats are good for you. What are the facts?"
Your response to Mei Lin's question: Fats provide more than twice the energy of carbohydrates or proteins. Fats transport vitamins A, D, E and K in your blood and serve as sources of linoleic acid, which is needed for growth and healthy skin. Although consuming too much fat increases unhealthful weight gain and can lead to obesity.

5. Megan's question: "I know I get vitamins and minerals from my food, but does the body store and use every vitamin in the same way?"
Your response to Megan's question: The body does not store and use every vitamin in the same way. Some vitamins are water soluble while others are fat soluble. Vitamins that dissolve in water are passed easily into the blood during digestion and they need to be replenished often as the body does not store these vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins are absorbed, stored, and transported in fat. Excess buildup of fat soluble vitamins can be toxic. Every vitamin is used for a special purpose such as Vitamin K which is essential for blood clotting and assisting in regulating blood calcium level. Now Vitamin A helps maintain skin tissue so it would do a pretty poor job at blood clotting.

6. Kwame's question: "Everyone says that you have to drink a lot of water every day. What is so important about water?"
Your response to Kwame's question: Water is important for every body function. Not only does it transport other nutrients to your cells but it also carries waste away from all your cells. Water lubricates your joints and mucous membranes which allow movement. Water lets you swallow and digest foods, absorb other nutrients, and eliminate wastes. And water helps maintain normal body temperature through perspiration.