HEALTHY Nutrition FOR CHRISTIANS
Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent. The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed (Exodus 16:16-18).
According to the Old Testament, God commanded His people to take enough to satisfy and meet their needs. Nutrition is the science how food affects the body. All foods contain nutrients which are chemicals needed for a healthy body and energy to grow. There are six main nutrients which are classified into six different groups, with three of these groups containing calories.
|
Nutrients that contain calories These nutrients provide the sources of energy. |
Nutrients that do not contain calories These nutrients do not provide energy. |
| Carbohydrate, Protein, Fat | Vitamins, Minerals, Water |
All foods contain some nutrients, and there are some highly nutritious food that contain all six nutrient classifications. For example, a glass of low-fat milk contains carbohydrate, protein, some fat, minerals (calcium), vitamins (B2), and water. Other foods are not good sources of nutrients (candy and sweetened beverages).
The body needs a certain amount of calories each day. That amount is determined by several conditions and lifestyle:
| Age | Body Type | Metabolism | Height/Weight | Activity Level |
Dietary guidelines recommend that no more than 30% of total daily calories come from fat. One gram of fat equals 9 calories. Carbohydrates and proteins contain less than half as many calories. All three calories are an important part of a person's diet. Learning to balance these three nutrients is one of the keys to healthy nutrition.
The following links are useful in planning a healthy nutritional lifestyle:
http://app.idph.state.il.us/brfss/default.asp
http://www.organizing-communities.org/