Why is Nutrition Even Important?

When starting on a health and fitness journey nutrition is often one of the biggest and most talked about topics…but why is nutrition important?

Healthy eating and nutrition has become one of the most talked about health topics while still remaining the most difficult for people to tackle and probably one of the most confusing. If you ask a few different people what healthy eating is you will likely get a different answer from everyone and at the end of the day it’s because the answer genuinely is different for everyone.

Some people may say gluten free is the answer…and for someone with celiac disease it is…but it’s not the answer for everyone. Some may say dairy free which again is appropriate for those suffering with lactose intolerance but that doesn’t fit everyone either…I could go on but you get the point.

Although it looks different for everyone nutrition does matter…but maybe not for the reasons you think I’m about to say…

So why does nutrition matter…because Food is Fuel!

Without food our body can not do so many of the things that we demand of it. No fuel, no results (think what would happen if you didn’t put gas into your car’s gas tank). Food is composed of macronutrients (carbs, protein and fat) as well as micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). All of these are needed for your body to function in a normal healthy way. This includes both from a fitness standpoint (or activity in general) but also from a biochemistry standpoint (this is all the stuff that is going on in your body that you have no idea is happening all day everyday).

Which is why I personally never encourage anyone to use restrictive diets (unless of course there is a medical reason to). The average person needs to consume carbohydrates, proteins and fats as well as a variety of vitamins and minerals to feel healthy. Again, I will save you all the boring biochemistry of it all and tell you that each one serves a function in the body and each one is required in one way or another.

With all of that said, it doesn’t mean that some options aren’t better than others. For example whole grain bread is typically a healthier option than white bread because it has more of these nutrients in it. When you choose these less optimal options it’s not that you are getting no nutrients, but you may be getting less than if you had choose the healthier option. For some people that is completely fine because although they opt for the white bread, they are still eating 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables each day so it can work itself out. This is why nutrition isn’t black or white and there isn’t one right answer.

I didn’t want this to become a lengthy post about nutrition, what’s good and what’s okay, what’s better, ect. But I did want you to understand why nutrition is important (without going into all the fancy biochemistry of it). Every individual is going to have a different best option…nutrition is about balance and finding what works for you. It may take some trial and error, but with some time and patience you will be able to get to a place where nutrition can be balanced and give you all the fuel that you need in your daily life.