Health Blog: March – Nutrition
March – Nutrition
What makes up a balanced diet?
While many nutrients can be produced by the body, other nutrients – called essential nutrients – cannot. Therefore, we must supply them through our diet: the foods we eat and drink.
Essential nutrients include 9 of the 20 amino acids found in proteins, certain fatty acids found in fats and oils, and a number of minerals and vitamins. Nutrients are generally divided into 2 categories: macronutrients and micronutrients.
Macronutrients include fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and some minerals, and our bodies need these in large quantities on a daily basis. They make up the bulk of our diet and supply the energy and building blocks we need for growth, activity, and maintenance. When these foods are digested they are turned into their basic units, namely sugars from carbohydrates, fatty acids and glycerol from fats, and amino acids from proteins. The energy content derived from each is measured in calories.
Typically, our individual calorie intakes vary greatly depending on the availability of food and on our physical activity, age, and sex. In general:
- older adults, children, and sedentary women need roughly 1,600 calories per day;
- active women, older children, and sedentary men need roughly 2,000 calories per day;
- young men and active adolescent boys need roughly 2,400 calories per day.
Macrominerals include calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, potassium, and magnesium, and our bodies need roughly 1 to 2 grams of each per day. Water is also a macronutrient and we need 1 mL for each calorie of energy we expend, or about 2,500 mL (2.6 quarts) per day.
Essential fatty acids include linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. Linoleic acid and linolenic acid are found in vegetable oils. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential for brain development and are found in fish oils.
Micronutrients include vitamins and trace minerals, and our bodies need them to metabolize the macronutrients.Micronutrients are usually required in small amounts – from milligrams to micrograms. Essential trace minerals include iron, zinc, copper, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, iodide, and fluoride. With the exception of fluoride, all these minerals activate enzymes that help our bodies metabolize food.
Ask Your Pharmacist
Q: Why do I need fibre in my diet?
A: Fibre helps to improve movement in the gastrointestinal tract, regulate changes in blood sugar and cholesterol that occur after we’ve eaten, and increase the elimination of cancer-causing substances produced by the bacteria in the large intestine. Most North Americans consume only 4 g to 12 g of fibre per day. The recommended daily intake should be upwards of 26 g to 35 g. If you feel you aren’t getting enough fibre from your diet, there are also supplements you can take.
Do you have a question? Don’t hesitate to ask your Live Well Pharmacist.
Health Tip
Adding more fibre to your diet can be easy. Go for high-fibre foods such as split peas, lentils, quinoa, oat bran muffins, ground flax seed, and bananas. Try not to do too much at once, though – increasing fibre too quickly can cause gas and bloating.
All material © 1996-2013 MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
