Back to: Finally Fit – March
Micronutrients
We spend a lot of time talking about Macronutrients but Micronutrients need love too! We touched on micronutrients yesterday but wanted to go a bit more in depth.
Micronutrients are the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in our food. They come in smaller amounts than macros but are just as important because they help our body perform essential duties like:
- Prevent Disease and Illness – Cancer, Diabetes, Osteoporosis
- Maintaining and Improving Bone Density
- Cellular Function
- Growth and Development
- Slow aging
- Break down the food we consume into energy
- Aid in digestion
- Strong Metabolism
- Produce Hormones
- Protect our brain
- Repair muscle and tissues
- Mental Performance
- Thyroid Function
- Prevent mineral and vitamin deficiencies – (Iodine, Iron, and Vitamin A are three very important deficiencies to be mindful of)
It isn’t always easy to know what foods have what micronutrients. But we DO know that you can find them in the following foods:
✤ Vegetables
✤ Nuts
✤ Seeds
✤ Berries
✤ Beans
✤ Whole Grains
✤ Seafood
✤ Grass-fed Beef
✤ Eggs
✤ Poultry
It is important to consume a wide variety of these whole foods to ensure you are getting the nutrition that your body needs.
Wheat, Corn, Soy, Dairy and Sugar are low in micronutrients which is another reason we avoid or at least limit them in our program.
There are supplements that provide micronutrients but whole foods are more effective and the best way to get your nutrition! Your daily Multivitamin and Omega are a safety net to fill in gaps where you may be lacking but you shouldn’t rely on them completely.
