by Janette Peel

Created on: August 05, 2008

Nutrition is the basic source of energy and fuel for our daily lives. The right foods will supply all the vital nutrients you need for your body's growth, maintenance, fertility and vitality. Eat your way to a healthier body and brighter mood.

A balanced diet rich in essential nutrients will keep you in peak condition. Your body relies on the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients contained in food to function and carry out all the essential bodily processes needed to sustain life: growth and repair; energy and immunity; producing hormones; a healthy heart and good circulation; a healthy nervous system and efficient brain function. In other words, just about everything the makes us healthy and happy beings.

Many supplements claim to be an alternative to getting nutrients from food. However, a daily multivitamin will not cancel out the negative effects of a diet of processed, fried or junk' foods.

A varied diet that consist of whole' foods (foods in their fresh, natural state), will provide your body with the broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals it needs and avoid the harmful substances in processed foods.

Most of us think of herbs in cooking as simply seasoning for our food. But herbs also contain antioxidants, thought to protect against conditions such as heart disease and cancer.

Common herbs known to have antioxidant properties include: coriander, dill, garlic, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon and thyme.

A balanced diet is the key to good health. By including items from each of the main food groups, you will ensure that you are receiving all the nutrients you need to stay healthy.

ESSENTIAL VITAMINS AND MINERALS

Your primary source of vitamins and minerals is from foods.

Vitamins can be divided into two categories: fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, F (essential fatty acids) and K, which are absorbed in the body by fat; and water-soluble vitamins B and C, choline and folic acid, which are absorbed by water. Vitamins are the organic compounds found in food and drink that the body requires for growth, maintenance and repair.

Minerals can also be put into two groups: macro minerals' (needed in larger quantities) calcium, chlorine, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium; and trace' minerals (needed in smaller quantities) copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, selenium and zinc. Minerals make up components of the body such as bones, teeth, tissues and cells. They cannot be made by the body and must be obtained from a balanced diet.

OTHER FOOD GROUPS

Each of the basic food

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