How well do you know the facts about nutrition and fitness? These are some of the most interesting facts about nutrition and fitness that you may not already know but should!
As you start to educate yourself on the latest nutritional trends, learn more about what to eat and how to exercise, these interesting facts about nutrition and fitness can help guide your decision-making process.
Be sure to save or pin this list of 8 interesting facts about nutrition and fitness so you can refer back to it later! What’s your favorite interesting fact about nutrition and fitness? Tell us in the comments below!
Table of Contents
8 Interesting Facts about Nutrition and Fitness
1) Protein is an essential macronutrient
It’s used to make all of your body’s tissues, including muscle. If you don’t get enough protein in your diet, your body will start breaking down its own tissues for survival.
This is why it’s important to eat plenty of protein-rich foods like lean meat, fish, poultry, beans and lentils—it ensures that our bodies have enough amino acids to stay strong. (source)
2) You need fiber in your diet
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate found in all plant foods. Your body can’t digest fiber, so it passes through your digestive system without adding calories or increasing insulin levels. A high-fiber diet helps you feel full longer, which can help with weight control.
The recommended daily intake for adults is 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. More than half of American adults don’t get enough fiber in their diets—and African Americans are even more likely to fall short on their daily fiber intake.
3) Veggies are healthy, but some are more nutritious than others
Some healthy foods are more nutritious than others, even if they’re in a similar category. For example, carrots and sweet potatoes both count as carbs on a nutrition label, but one is certainly healthier than the other.
In fact, you might be surprised to learn that sweet potatoes actually have fewer carbs per serving than carrots. Here are some quick facts about nutrition
4) Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary
Omega-3 is one of many types of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are necessary for survival. These acids are known as essential fatty acids because they must be included in your diet (through healthy fats like fish) to maintain good health.
If you don’t get enough omega-3s, you may be more likely to develop heart disease or depression. One interesting fact is that omega-3s also help prevent inflammation throughout your body.
5) Hydration is vital
Many of us don’t realize how dehydrated we are until we drink a glass of water. If you aren’t drinking enough water, you can experience headaches, fatigue, constipation, cramps, kidney stones—the list goes on.
However, what many people don’t know is that dehydration can be exacerbated by certain foods that reduce our bodies ability to absorb fluids. Avoiding these substances could help increase your body’s hydration levels.
6) Carbs can be bad
Carbs have gotten a bad rap in recent years. However, it’s important to note that there are many beneficial carbs you can eat, including whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
7) Hormones affect hunger levels
When your stomach is empty, ghrelin levels increase, increasing hunger. Leptin is produced in fatty tissue in response to weight gain. It increases feelings of fullness and satiety.
This indicates that if you have more fat stores, your body will think it has enough food; if leptin levels are low, your brain tells you that you need to eat more food because there’s not enough stored energy available for use.
8) Sleep is necessary for weight loss
When you sleep, your body releases growth hormone. Growth hormone helps with weight loss because it increases lean muscle mass, which in turn burns more calories than fat. On top of that, studies have shown that people who sleep less are more likely to be overweight. So make sure you’re getting seven to nine hours of shuteye each night.
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