Nutrition

Food is an enjoyable part of our everyday lives. Food helps us breathe, move and think . Food keeps us alive and well. Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy and should be the major part of total daily intake. Complex carbohydrates are preferred because these foods are more nutritious yet have fewer calories per gram compared to fat and cause fewer problems with overeating than fat or sugar. Protein supplies amino acids to build and maintain healthy body tissue. There are 20 amino acids considered essential because the body must have all of them in the right amounts to function properly. Fat supplies energy and transports nutrients. There are two families of fatty acids considered essential for the body: the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Vitamins are organic substances present in food and required by the body in small amounts for regulation of metabolism and maintenance of normal growth and functioning. The most commonly known vitamins are A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid), B12 (cobalamin), C (ascorbic acid), D, E, and K. Fiber is the material that gives plant texture and support. Although it is primarily made up of carbohydrates, it does not have a lot of calories and usually is not broken down by the body for energy. Water helps to regulate body temperature, transports nutrients to cells, and rids the body of waste materials. Government issued the Fifth edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Document carries three basic messages referred to as the " ABCs for good health "

A- Aim for Fitness
B- Build a Healthy Base
C- Choose Sensibly

Vegetarians eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes , so they get lots of fiber, Magnesium, Vitamins A, C , E . Also , plant based diets generally have less saturated fat and cholesterol than diet based on meat . That's why it’s no surprise that vegetarian diets are linked to a lower risk of many chronic diseases including colorectal cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes, diverticular disease, hypertension , obesity, and renal disease.