Today we are going to talk a little bit about nutrition and a balanced diet. A “diet” is just what we eat and drink every day. Do you know how many calories you eat each day? Do you know what a calorie is?
A calorie is simply a way we measure how much energy is in the food we eat. Our bodies need energy to preform and function how they are supposed to. Have you ever tried to do karate when you are SUPER hungry? You might feel drained and extra tired. That is because your body is lacking the energy it needs to preform! However, it is important that when we give our bodies calories to use, they are not just empty calories.
“Empty calories” are ones that have no nutritional value. They typically come from pure sugar and sometimes come from carbohydrates. It is important to have the calories in our foods come from things like protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. We want to avoid simple carbohydrates and sugar for the most part.
All of this information can be found on the nutrition labels that the FDA requires on all packaged food. Being able to read nutrition labels is definitely an import life skill! Once you can decipher the labels you can begin to balance what you eat each day with your activity level. From there you will be well on your way to a healthy Black Belt life style!
-Ashley Smith, CMA Instructor