The First Factor of Good Health: Nutrition

In my last post, we discussed what you need to do in order be and stay healthy.  As we explore my 5 Factors of Good Health, we will discuss each in detail.  First up: Proper Nutrition.

 What is “Nutrition” exactly?  Well, in humans, nutrition can be defined as the process of nourishing or being nourished, especially the process by which a living human assimilates nutrients and uses them for growth and for replacement of tissues. Nutrients can be defined as anything we put in our mouths to eat.  More specifically, there are six major classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, minerals, protein, vitamins, and water, and these make up the stuff we call “food”.

Why does it seem so hard to understand what foods we should eat and when?  One of the reasons is that the field of nutrtion and diet is ever evolving and changing, with new information constantly contradicting the old rules and truths we held dear.  Take dietary cholesterol, for example.

 When I was a food scientist in the 1980’s, some of the first information and recommendations came out concerning cholesterol and diet.  At that time, only the total blood cholesterol numbers were considered, and is was thought that all foods containing cholesterol should be banned from the diet!  This included eggs, cream, butter, shrimp, etc.  They said we should eat margarine and egg beaters instead.

 Soon after, we realized that the total cholesterol levels in the blood were not as important but that the LDL and HDL levels and ratios were more so.  Then we were told that we could eat eggs in moderation, but still use margarine instead of butter.

Soon after, we realized that the total cholesterol levels were not important but that the LDL and HDL levels and ratios were more so. Then we were told that we could eat eggs in moderation, but still use margarine instead of butter.

 Next, we found out that dietary cholesterol really has very little effect on HDL, LDL or blood plasma cholesterol levels.  It seems  genetics and exercise play a much greater role in HDL/LDL ratios and levels.  So now we could eat eggs and everything in moderation…but STOP eating margarine because it bad for your nutrition due to trans-fats!

So who do you believe?  Everyone from Dr. Atkins, Dr. Sears to Dr. Oz has an opinion, and they often contradict one another.  In my next post we will discuss what and how much to eat to stay health and live longer.