NUTRITION
BODY FUEL
Protein, carbohydrates, and fats are fuel the body needs to run efficiently. Think of your body as a well tuned car engine with a lot of horse power. What kind of fuel are you going to put in your engine?
Protein: is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. An example of a protein is the type of nutrient found in meats.
Carbohydrates: The two main forms of carbohydrates are sugars (such as fructose, glucose, and lactose) and starches. Whole or complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as starchy vegetables, grains, rice, breads, and cereals. Refined Carbohydrates are found in sugar sweeteners, fruit juices, pastries, white bread, white pasta, white bread, and white rice. The body breaks down (or converts) most carbohydrates into the sugar glucose, which is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Fats: The foods we eat contain nutrients that provide energy and other substances the body needs. The body uses fat as a fuel source and fat is the major storage form of energy in the body. There are four types of fat. This can get confusing because everyone is told fat is not good for you. This is not the case, we need fat to survive.
Fats: The foods we eat contain nutrients that provide energy and other substances the body needs. The body uses fat as a fuel source and fat is the major storage form of energy in the body. There are four types of fat. This can get confusing because everyone is told fat is not good for you. This is not the case, we need fat to survive.
Saturated Fats: A type of fat with certain chemical properties that is usually solid at room temperature. Saturated fats are found in most animal foods. More examples of saturated fats are dairy products that include cheese, cream, and whole milk.
Monounsaturated Fats: Are typically liquid at room temperature. Sources of monounsaturated fat include: avocados, almonds, cashews, and peanuts. In addition to these, cooking oils made from plants or seeds like canola, olive, peanut, soybean, rice bran, sesame and sunflower oils belong in this category as well.
Polyunsaturated Fats: Are typically liquid at room temperature. Polyunsaturated fats are in a number plant-based oils, including: soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and flaxseed oil.
Trans-Fats: A substance that is made through the chemical process of hydrogenation of oils. In most cakes, and cookies.
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