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Grow Right

Adolescence is often about taking it to the max – especially when it comes to growth in terms of height and weight. And good nutrition – getting ready-to-burn fuel and the right nutrients in the right amounts - is critical in supporting your rapid growth. So, that said, do you think it's important what you eat right now? Oh yeah, and establishing healthy eating habits at your age is critical in helping prevent health problems later in life. Go on, check out this info-packed Health Trek page, get nutrient wise, eat smart and GROW RIGHT.

Food For Life

Basically, and most importantly, we need food to live. We need it to grow. That's what getting hungry is all about – it's your body telling you something loud and clear: "Hey, it's time to feed me!" A smaller voice grumbles, if you listen closely, "And make it some good nutritious foods that replenish and invigorate the whole machine, buddy." Keep in mind, your body can't make nutrients out of thin air, so they must be supplied by food. Nutrients are the important parts of food that give us vital energy so we can run, jump, yell and do all the wild and wonderful things we do.

	Hit our Nutritional Info Food Database and get calorie, fat, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, sugar, cholesterol, sodium and other assorted information for over 30,000 foods, including plenty of fast-food favorites. This feature is made possible by Calorie King. Try it now.

Carefully consider the following list of nutrients, what they do for you and how often you munch (or should start munching) on them in their various forms.

Carbohydrates - Supplies the major source of energy for the body (bread, rice, pasta).

Fats (lipids) - Supplies energy, but they have many other functions, including transporting nutrients and being part of many body cells. Fats provide storage and insulation for your body.
 

• Saturated fatty acids - A type of fat that is solid at room temperature (for example, butter or lard). Saturated fat can clog arteries and veins and is associated with an increased risk of heart disease – bad news! Saturated fat is usually found in animal products (meat, poultry and whole milk dairy products).
• Unsaturated fatty acids - A type of fat that is liquid at room temperature (for example, vegetable oils). Unsaturated fatty acids are found in fatty fish like salmon, tuna and sardines.

Proteins - Builds and repairs body tissues; supplies energy (meats, nuts & beans).

Vitamins - These compounds are needed in very small amounts in the diet to regulate chemical reactions in the body. Vitamins do not provide energy but help our bodies use the energy from foods.
 

• Vitamin A - Helps maintain healthy skin and good eyesight (dark green and yellow fruits, vegetables).
• Vitamin D - Promotes absorption of calcium, which helps maintain strong bones and teeth (vitamin D fortified milk, egg yolks, fortified cereal, salmon, sunlight).
• Vitamin C - Promotes healing of wounds (fruits).
• B Vitamins - Releases energy from the foods you eat so that your body can use the energy (breads & grains).

Minerals - Are like vitamins and are used in the body to promote chemical reactions and form body structures.
 

• Calcium - Helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth (milk and milk products). Remember all those milk ads?
• Iron - Important for making red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body (meat, fish, poultry, iron-fortified cereals, spinach).
• Water - Water does not belong in any food group, but it plays many roles to keep you healthy. It helps digest food, it carries nutrients from food throughout your body and it helps regulate body temperature through perspiration. Examples include water, milk, juice and some juicy fruits.

 

	GET IT RIGHT, WISE GUY OR GAL Nutrition helps make you who you are, and who you are going to be down the road – see, you're more in control of things than you thought! Download Health Trek's specially prepared Recommended Dietary Intakes here and match yourself up to see exactly what your body needs and in what amounts, from protein, vitamin B6 and B12 to iron, zinc and selenium.

Being "Nutrient Wise" is smart, healthy and makes a lot of sense. You need to keep on top of all those crazy changes that are going on in your body: bone and muscle growth, increased energy needs, increased metabolic processes involved in sexual maturation and keeping up with tremendous cellular growth -- hey, this is all good! Take your adolescence to the max!