R.D.A's
By Charles
Silverman
This is a very
important subject so let get started. Shall we?.
The numbers
given by the Nutrition Board are a recommendation, as to what Americans
should be eating and how much, in order to maintain their health. These
recommendations are broken down into genders and age groups. For example,
The RDA for a male fifty years of age is not the same to the RDA of a female
20 years of age.
RDAs are distinct
from, but related to, the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) developed by the
Food and Drug Administration to be used in food labelling. RDI replaced
the term U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances, which was used until new food
labelling regulations went into effect in late 1992. All packaged foods
were required to bear the new term on labels as of May 1994.
Because RDAs
and RDIs are widely used, it is important to understand generally how to
interpret them. The recommended allowances for nutrients are amounts intended
to be consumed as part of a normal diet, and are neither minimum requirements
nor optimal levels of intake; it is not possible based on current research
to set such specific guidelines, nor to set a specific amount that would
apply to all individuals. Rather, RDAs are safe and adequate levels of
intake that reflect current knowledge.
Unfortunately
most people don't eat well, not even the recommended amounts, this is the
main cause of deficiency. Experts believe that many of the diseases affecting
the average person are the result of not taking the necessary amount of
nutrients needed to maintain a good health.
The problem
is the complexity of the RDA table for example a child between 0 and 5
years of age needs 375 mg. of vitamin A, 7.5 mg. of vitamin D, 3 mg. of
vitamin E, 5 mg. of vitamin K, 30 mg. of vitamin C, etc, etc, etc. and
that's only for ages 0 - 5. As you can see there is no way to tell how
much Vitamin D your child is taking a day or how much Iron is on the chicken
your child had for lunch. The same problem is found in the RDA tables for
men and women.
That is why I recommend the used of another method.One way to know if you
are getting the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for all the nutrients
you need is to follow the Food guide pyramid. It provides from 1600 to
over 2800 calories per day depending on which foods and the number of servings
you eat. The assumption is made if you will choose a variety of foods from
each of the 5 food groups (Grain, Vegetable, Fruit, Milk, Meat) then you
will probably get 100% of your RDA.
| Sponsor
If you ever
wonder what it would be like to reach a perfect balance between work, family,
friends,hobbies
etc. You need to check out this new approach called "Rainbow Reflections"
It's a FREE
of charge, monthly information E-Zine, giving you the tips, secrets and
tools to become a better person, helping you grow personally. Many have
joined and they are benefiting from this FREE guide. To get your issue
go to Opt-in-Magnet and
subscribe to "Rainbow Reflections". |
The Food Guide Pyramid is a tool used to teach people to eat a balanced
diet from a variety of food portions without counting calories or any other
nutrient. The USDA expanded the four food groups to six and expanded the
number of servings to meet the calorie needs of most persons.
The Top
of the Pyramid
Fats, oils
and sweets should be used sparingly in the diet and therefore are represented
as the small tip of the pyramid. This includes salad dressings, oils, cream,
butter, margarine, soft drinks, candies, and sweet desserts. These foods
provide calories but little or no vitamins and minerals.
The Middle
of the Pyramid
Protein is
needed in moderate amounts in the diet and therefore represents the upper
middle of the pyramid. Milk, yogurt, cheese; and meat, poultry, fish, dry
beans, eggs and nuts - two groups of foods that come mostly from animals
- are important for protein, calcium, iron and zinc. Choose lean meats,
skinless poultry, fish and low-fat dairy products to control fat and cholesterol.
Also, limit breaded or fried foods to control fat and calories.
Most Americans
need to eat more fruits and vegetables which help form the foundation of
the pyramid. Besides being an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and
fiber, vegetables and fruits (plant foods) are low-fat, low-sodium and
cholesterol-free.
Eating a variety
of vegetables and fruits will help ensure that you meet your daily need
for Vitamin C and other nutrients.
The Base
of the Pyramid
Bread, cereals,
rice and pasta - all foods from grains - are found at the base of the Pyramid
because they are the foundation upon which the rest of the diet is planned.
Try to choose 6-11 servings daily. Grains supply fiber, carbohydrates,
vitamins and minerals. They are usually low in fat and are the preferred
fuel for our brain, nervous system and muscles. To keep these foods low
in fat and calories, limit the use of spreads.
The information
in this brochure was adapted from USDA's Food Guide Pyramid, US Department
of Agriculture, Human Nutrition Information Service, 1992.
What Counts
as One Serving?
Here are some
serving size examples for each food group. If you eat a larger portion,
count it as more than one serving.
Most Americans
are encouraged to eat at least the lowest number of servings from the five
food groups each day.
Bread, Cereal,
Rice and Pasta Group (6-11 servings)
1 slide of bread
· 1 ounce of ready-to-eat cereal (check labels: 1 ounce = 1/4 cup
to 2 cups depending on cereal)
· 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta
· 1/2 hamburger roll, bagel, English muffin
· 3 or 4 plain crackers (small)
Vegetable Group (3-5 servings)
· 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables
· 1/2 cup of other vegetables, cooked or chopped raw
· 3/4 cup of vegetable juice
Fruit Group (2-4)
· 1 medium apple, banana, orange, nectarine, peach
· 1/2 cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit
· 3/4 cup of fruit juice
Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese Group (2-3 servings)
· 1 cup of milk or yogurt
· 1.5 ounces of natural cheese
· 2 ounces of process cheese
Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts Group (2-3 servings)
· 2 to 3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish
· (1 ounce of meat = 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans, 1 egg or 2 tablespoons
of peanut butter)
How Much Should I Eat?
1200 calories is the lowest amount recommended to maintain nutritional
adequacy; this calorie level is conducive for weight loss, or extremely
inactive individuals.
1600 calories is recommended for many sedentary women and some older adults.
2200 calories is recommended for most children, teenage girls, active women
and sedentary men; women who are pregnant or breast feeding may need more.
2500 calories is recommended for teenage boys, active men, and some very
active women.
|
Visit
our web site and check out the latest Osama bin Laden photos Greenjokes.com
|
==================================================
If you need
more FREE information on many topics, such as, health, and spiritualism,
or personal growth go to Opt-in-Magnet.com
Check out
our new sections and publications today!!!
================================================== |
===========================================================
The Insider
Secrets to Marketing Your Business on the Internet - Learn from the best.
The author of this site, Corey Rudl gets over 4 million visitors to his
websites yearly, does 5.2 million dollars in sales online each year (yes,
that is $5,200,000), and personally makes hundreds of thousands of dollars
from his online businesses... all from his one small office. So listen
to what he has to say as he knows what he is talking about when it comes
to starting and promoting a business on the Internet. He reveals all his
unconventional tips, trick and techniques with examples so you can learn
most efficient and fastest way to make money on the Internet. http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/650478/
============================================================ |
.
This is a "Shareware" Article
(what's that? read on...)
This article is shareware. Give this article away for free on
your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire
article is left intact including this notice. Copyright © 2004
Opt-in-Magnet.com Inc.
|
.
. |
. |
.
