Becoming label conscious

As students and young adults who are constantly on the move, we tend to be too busy to control what we eat each day – and our diets suffer as a result. Most people think that supplementing their diets with multivitamins will rectify their nutritional imbalance. Unless we eat correctly and take supplements which are not normally included in our daily foods, vitamins cannot replace unhealthy eating habits. We need to become more aware of what we consume and more importantly, what it is that our bodies require each day.
Our bodies need specific amounts of vitamins and minerals each day in order to perform certain functions and keep us feeling and looking great. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) table, which is usually found on the labels of many foods, can be used as a tool to direct and inform us of the vitamin and mineral content of different product. The label should also state the serving size, which is merely an indication of the portion of food you are consuming. As young adults, it is very important that we become aware of the food we eat and the effects of it.
Young women between the ages of 19 and 24 need approximately 2100k of energy per day. Your body requires 46g of protein and 800 to 1000mg of calcium. It also requires specified amounts of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and water soluble vitamins such as riboflavin, vitamin B6, B12 and ascorbic acid. Minerals such as iron and phosphorus should also be included in ones diet, as a lack of them could result in certain illnesses.
If we become aware of the nutritional value in certain foods, then we can actively choose to consume foods which we know are good for our bodies. Bear in mind that your food proportions should be moderate and spread evenly throughout the day. It is common knowledge that it is far better to eat evenly proportioned servings of food throughout the day than it is to consume 3 large meals a day, and that there should be a portion size differentiation between meals and snacks. Lastly, remember the simple basics: eat lots of fruit and veggies, and less sugar, fat and salt, and keep active.

If you would like to view the RDA table that illustrates the amount of vitamins and minerals that should be included into your diet, then visit:

http://www.zestrsa.co.za/rda.htm