Nutrition Flyer
Myth: Don't eat fat. But our bodies need it to function.
Healthy diet
You should include plenty of fruits and veggies. Also have pasta, potatoes, rice and bread, but choosing whole grain. You should have some meat, fish, eggs, beans, and other sources of protein. Your diet should also include some dairy products like milk and yogurt. You should limit your intake of sugar filled food. Having a balanced diet will give you nutrition and help your body function. Your liver will digest it to quickly and this will cause your body to turn it into fat.
LDL vs HDL
LDL cholesterol makes up the majority of the body's cholesterol. It is known as "bad" cholesterol because it having high levels can lead to plaque build up in your arteries and can result in heart disease and stroke. HDL cholesterol absorbs cholesterol and takes it back to the liver. It is known as "good" cholesterol because having high levels can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Proteins
Proteins are broken down into pieces (called amino acids) that are then used to build new proteins with specific functions.
Carbohydrates
The two digestible carbohydrates are starches and sugars, and both of these carbohydrates are digested, or broken down into their most elementary form. Amylase, an enzyme which breaks apart starches, is found in the mouth and in the small intestine.
Fats
Fats typically provide more than half of the body's energy needs. Fat from food is broken down into fatty acids, which can travel in the blood and be captured by hungry cells. Fatty acids that aren't needed right away are packaged in bundles called triglycerides and stored in fat cells, which have unlimited capacity.
Obesity vs Overweight vs Underweight
If your BMI (Body Mass Index) is less than 18.5 then you are underweight. If your BMI is 25.0-20.0 then you are overweight. If your BMI is 30.0 or higher then you are obese. Overweight means you weigh more than you average or what is considered normal. Obesity is a bodily condition marked by excessive generalized deposition and storage of fat. Underweight means that you weigh less than what is normal, healthy, or required.
Recommendation
You should know that cholesterol is important in your body. If you do not take care of yourself you can have risk factors later in life. You should start to be more active, go on walks with friends or even work out on your own. Eat more fruits and veggies, and less sugar filled foods. You can also lower your cholesterol with Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes which can help you figure out what you need to do to be healthier.
How to Develop Healthy Eating Habits
Resources
Webcam video from November 18, 2015 12:56 AM (UTC)