The World Health Organization defines nutrition as “the intake of food considered in relation to the body’s dietary needs.” The significance of nutrition cannot be denied at any cost because it is directly involved with the health and wellness of individuals and overall communities.The science of nutrition not just involves taking in food, but it also involves the process of absorbing, assimilating, utilizing and even excreting the waste out of the body. The importance of nutrition is evident from various scientifically sound and reliable research studies. It has also been proven that people with adequate nutritional status are less prone to diseases as compared to those who have poor nutritional status. It can thus safely be stated that good nutrition is actually a cornerstone of good health, when it is coupled with ongoing physical activity. On the other hand, poor nutrition may lead to decreased immunity towards various diseases, compromised psychological and physical growth and development as well as malfunctioning of the overall metabolism of the body.In order to emphasize the importance of nutrition, the month of March is celebrated as Nutrition Month, especially in the region of North America. However, this is not just limited to North America, rather it is now celebrated in bits and pieces all around the globe. The goal of celebrating March Nutrition Month is to make the masses aware about the importance of nutrition, especially in relation to the maintenance of good health. The time has now come where we have to take steps to designate one particular day in the month of March as the “International Nutrition Day”. This step will be helpful in further emphasizing the value of nutrition in the daily lives of common people and communities generally.March Nutrition Month additionally focuses on the significance of making healthy and informed food choices, as far as the common people are concerned. It is also a way to acknowledge the work of nutritionists and dietitians as they play a very important role in our healthy lifestyles. Every year, a specific theme is assigned to the March Nutrition Month. The theme for the current year 2015 is “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” which entails us to lead healthy lives by incorporating wise food and nutrition related choices. Celebrating March Nutrition Month will not make people aware about the importance of nutrition in daily lives but will also help people lead healthy lives.
Choosing Sports Shoes
When it comes to sports, wearing protective and supportive clothing is essential, but of all your sports clothes, you must pay particular attention to your trainers. Without the correct footwear, you run the risk of causing untold problems for your body. Indeed, an ill-fitting pair of shoes can have devastating consequences for your feet, knees, hips, back, and neck. For this reason, it is important to invest money in a decent pair of trainers, designed by a reputable company who have the interests of the sportsperson at heart.When it comes to trainers, there is great variation in the quality of the shoe, and the degree to which they protect the runner. A brand such as Adidas is ideal. When Adidas first arrived in the sportswear market, they laid down the company’s constitution, which was to create Adidas trainers that would protect the feet from injury. Today, this brand competes in a global market, their survival rests upon the premise that their clothing and trainers are always of the utmost quality.If you are just embarking upon fitness regime then, more likely than not, you will not have a sufficient understanding of the qualities of a good trainer. Stick to a brand that you know, and which is trustworthy, such as Adidas trainers, and always follow the advice outlined below:
Always purchase trainers from a reputable shoe store. You can find such stores in the high street or on the Internet, either way, by shopping with a trusted store, you guarantee that any information you garner is accurate and in your best interests.
Establish the pressure points inherent in your walk. Do this by looking at the soles of your shoes, the place at which there is most wear is the area of your foot to which you apply most pressure. Buy trainers that support this area most. For example, if you find a lot of wear on the heel, you need to have a shoe that provides extra cushioning on the heel.
If you know that your feet have certain defining characteristics, a high arch for example, then contact your shoe store and ask which styles of trainer will protect your feet given their build. Of the Adidas trainers range, the Supernova Cushion 7 offers great support for people with a high arch.
Think about how vigorously you plan to exercise. The more exercise you do, the greater your need for a professionally designed trainer. If you plan to exercise a lot, you will need to spend a fair amount of money on your trainers to ensure they offer you the support you require.
The first few times you wear the shoes, you will probably find that they cause some pain, this is quite normal, and is simply because you are breaking them in. If the pain continues for a prolonged period, then you have probably purchased a style of trainers that does not support your foot.
Pregnancy Nutrition Facts – Calcium and Folate Are Essential for Proper Pregnancy Nutrition
Experts agree that perfect pregnancy nutrition is best achieved when the mother consumes whole foods containing nutrients such as calcium and folic acid from fruits and vegetables. It is not that easy for expectant mothers to get enough folic acid or calcium from whole food sources every day, so a health food vitamin or calcium supplement may be needed. When choosing the proper supplement it is important to understand the difference between natural health food vitamins for pregnancy nutrition and isolated multi-vitamins.When searching for the best pregnancy nutrition, be aware that it is better to consume vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are attached to whole foods, not isolated. Whole food nutrients are much easier for the body to absorb, whereas isolated vitamins and minerals are often flushed out before the body can break them down to use for fuel. There are some excellent all natural, low carb, high fiber foods that provide perfect pregnancy nutrition, but you will need to search the Internet. Many of the best concentrated formulas are not sold in typical grocery stores or even health food stores.First, it is important to know some of the most valuable elements of perfect pregnancy nutrition.Here are the essential minerals that a pregnant woman needs on a daily basis:* calcium* protein* phosphorus* potassium* folic acid (folate) Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate that is found in supplements* Vitamins A, D, C, E and the entire B complex.It is a nutrition fact that calcium is an important mineral for everyone, especially children, adolescents, nursing mothers and expectant mothers who need perfect pregnancy nutrition. It is not easy for all pregnant mothers to consume enough calcium every day without a health food vitamin or calcium supplement of some kind. It is especially challenging to get enough calcium from whole foods, like fruits and vegetables.Some of the more familiar sources of calcium in whole foods are:* Broccoli* Yogurt* Cheese* Milk* BeansDandelion is a natural source of calcium from whole food and alfalfa has a high level of calcium with natural enzymes and chlorophyll, but these are a little harder to include in a daily diet for proper pregnancy nutrition. However, you can find a concentrated whole food calcium supplement that includes dandelion and alfalfa along with other whole food calcium sources.If you are inclined to take a calcium supplement, not only is it important for proper pregnancy nutrition that the calcium originates from whole food sources, it is equally important that Vitamin D2 is present. Vitamin D2 is crucial to aid the body in absorbing calcium. Vitamin D2 is a necessary component to work with the calcium for improved bone strength and density. In one particular natural whole food calcium supplement, 3 types of calcium are included with different absorption characteristics, and Vitamin D2 is present to enhance the absorption of calcium.Folate, also called Folic Acid and Vitamin B9 is another essential nutrient for perfect pregnancy nutrition. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps the body create healthy new cells. That is why folate is very important for pregnancy nutrition as hopeful mothers create new life. Moms who include sufficient folic acid in their diets are taking positive steps toward preventing birth defects, especially of the baby’s brain or spine.Everyone has heard the stories about pregnant women who can’t control their mood swings. Plenty of medical research points to a deficiency of folic acid for fostering depression and other psychiatric disorders. In the book, “Food, Your Miracle Medicine” (Copyright 1993), Jean Carper states, “That folic acid can act as an antidepressant is no secret among scientists”. The book goes on to point out McGill University’s Dr. Young found, “accumulating evidence that folic acid deficiency can contribute to depressed mood”, and that eliminating the deficiency often cures the depression.For proper pregnancy nutrition, a woman needs about 800 mcg of folic acid daily. Nursing mothers can back that down to about 500 mcg. This level may not be easy for some to reach, as it requires up to six servings of foods such as spinach, beans or asparagus, every day. If a pregnant woman is not getting enough folate from whole foods, then a natural health food vitamin should be investigated.Foods with folic acid in them include:* Leafy, green vegetables* Fruits* Beans* Peas* NutsSome enriched breads, cereals and other grain products also contain folic acid. Again, it is important to be sure that the folate is attached to a natural whole food complex of B vitamins. You can find very effective whole foods, health drink concentrates and other pregnancy nutrition on the Internet that you will not find in retail stores. Just be sure to search for a natural health food vitamin for pregnancy nutrition. When you search, you will find folic acid along with other essential vitamins and minerals for perfect pregnancy nutrition.