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Use The Nutrition Pyramid To Provide Your Body With What It Needs

By: A R Thompson No matter our age, but certainly as we grow older our body needs to be provided with sufficient amounts of nutritious foods in order for it to remain functioning properly. One of the easiest ways of ensuring that this is done is by using a diet that is based upon the nutrition pyramid.

The nutrition pyramid provides you with a list of all the foods which are considered to be healthy and which will provide you with optimum levels of everything your body needs to remain fit and healthy. Below we take a look at the 4 levels, which make up the pyramid and the kinds of foods, which you should be eating when using it.

Base of the Pyramid - This includes those foods which contain complex carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, cereal and grains. All of which provide the body with energy which it needs. Plus these are essential especially in those people who choose to go with a very low fat diet plan. It is recommended that on average a person should be aiming to have between 6 and 11 servings of the foods in this group and this part of the pyramid each day.

Level 1 - This part of the pyramid is made up of fruit and vegetables and a person should be aiming to have between 3 and 5 servings of these particular foods each day. These foods are particular good as they contain essential vitamins such as A, C and D all of which are vital for our bodies to remain in good condition. A serving of these can be made up either of 1/2 cup of raw or cooked vegetables or an apple, banana or orange.

Level 2 - In this section of the pyramid this is where you will find the meat, dairy products, fish, beans and eggs. Where as with the first two levels you daily intake is quite high with this part of the pyramid it is recommended that you have only between 2 or 3 servings of these in a day. The meat that you eat should be lean and for all these foods you should aim to make up a serving of around 2 ounces of what ever one it is you have chosen to eat.

Level 3 - Is made up of those foods which you should have very little of. In this group, you will find those foods, which contain fat and oil as well as sweet ones. The reason that you should not include too much of these in your diet are that they provide you with very few nutritional items and instead will provide you with more calories. So cut down on the oil you use when cooking and the sodas.

Although we say, you should cut out fat from your diet you should not do so completely as your body uses it to help protect your organs. Plus it also helps to improve the health of your skin and your nails. Therefore, if you do need to go for oils in your diet go for ones such as olive oil.

By keeping the nutrition pyramid in mind when planning your dietary intake each day will help to ensure that you and your body remain fit and healthy for years to come. Often within a matter of weeks of keeping in mind the pyramids requirements you may soon find that your energy levels are improving and life is looking at whole lot rosier.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

At Middle Age Fitness we provide information on how to remain fit and healthy as you grow older. If you would like to find out more about the importance of nutrition in you diet then click here

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