Healthy eating means giving yourself all the essential nutrients you need on a daily basis. There are 40 types of nutrients your body needs in order for it to maintain its health. I mean, that is a lot of nutrients. It is easy to remember all these nutrients by categorizing them so you can ensure you eat all the foods you need.
Water
The first category to remember is water. Water is essential for our daily living for without it, we become dehydrated. Water needs to be replenished in our system regularly as we lose it through sweating and other bodily functions. As you may already know, 8 glasses is the daily recommendation. You can also get water from fruits such as watermelon and oranges, as well as from fruit juices.
Protein
The other category of nutrients we need is protein. Proteins are derived from meat, legumes and soy products. They provide the necessary amino acids to build muscle tissue and also some of the hormones in our bodies. Protein also helps in the production of red blood cells.
Fats and Carbohydrates
Our bodies also need fats and carbohydrates so we can be properly energized during the day. Fats and carbohydrates can help us with the energy we need when we exercise or do any form of intense activity. They can also be stored in our bodies so we have to be careful of the amounts we take if we are stay slim and healthy. If you are not eating enough fats and carbohydrates, your body can use the protein it receives to provide the energy.
Vitamins and Minerals
Then we have vitamins and minerals. These we get from fruits and vegetables, milk and other natural food sources. You can even enhance some of the foods you eat, like bread, to give your body the vitamins and minerals it needs. Some of what you need are vitamin C and D, iron and thiamine.
Once you eat a healthy variety of foods you don't need to worry about getting all the vitamins and minerals necessary for you. However, you can also take supplements if you are concerned that your body lacks any of the essential nutrients it needs to remain healthy.