Micronutrients In Your Diet

There are more in your diet than you may think. Micronutrients play an active role to determine whether what you are taking in your meals help your wellness or otherwise. Studies have shown that today Americans are taking only half of the body's requirements of vitamins and minerals but more than double the body's required fat.

Micronutrients are the minute substances in food such as vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Macronutrients, on the other hand are bigger substances such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats and fiber. To achieve optimum health, we are supposed to have all the above food groups in a balanced diet. But 'balanced' does not mean in equal amount. Instead they must be in the right proportion.

Our body is made up of trillions of cells. To function well and be healthy, these cells need the following four items:

1. Water
2. Oxygen
3. Food
4. Blood Vessels

So are we taking the right food to ensure that all our cells are healthy? Bear in mind the following paradox about food:

• Some substances in food are toxic. An example is the solanine produced by sprouting potatoes. Some substances fight toxin such as certain compounds found in cabbage.
• Some foods such as saturated fat promotes the buildup of plaque in the arteries whereas other foods such as fiber in oats help to clean up the arteries.
• Some foods carry additives that promote cancer development whereas other foods contain substances that prevent cancer.

Of late, we hear the popularity of food fads. We have to be really careful because some fads can cause detrimental of your health instead of improving it. Some people also take for granted that taking nutritional supplements can compensate their unbalanced diet. But there are no shortcuts to good nutrition.

 One way to ensure that you are getting the necessary micronutrients is to eat a variety of food so that whatever is lacking in one food can be compensated by another. You also have to keep up with the latest findings in food science, because new discoveries are being made almost everyday. More and more new micronutrients are found in food. These new substances may change the way you look at food.

For more information on micronutrients, take a look at this webpage: www.squidoo.com/micronutrients-in-your-diet