An optimum nutritional diet will be different for everyone. These differences can relate to sex, age and the amount of your daily physical activity. This page has been put together with some pointers from today's nutritional community. I would recommend research and "trial and error" in determining the best dietary mix for you.

The main object of a healthy nutritious diet is to help you feel good both physically and emotionally. It should provide you with energy to enjoy each and every day. A good indicator that your diet is not as it should be is if you feel tired or sluggish half an hour after eating or if you suffer from indigestion (especially at night). Depression, or anxiety may also be good indicators that your diet is not optimum.

The primary objective in eating is to provide the body with the appropriate amount of nutrition to last until the next scheduled meal. Eating more than the body requires means that the body has to work overtime to process the excess food, and the excess nutrients will be stored on the body as fat. This is especially true when eating excess refined carbohydrates.

The closer food is to it natural live state before preparation for eating, the better it is for you. Meals should be balanced with adequate quantities of proteins, natural fats and complex carbohydrates.

Proteins are important because they help to maintain muscle and bone mass.

Fats (both animal and fish) are important for proper brain functioning. They also help to slow the release of sugar from carbohydrates, and also act as an indicator to the brain that you are full reducing the natural desire to over eat.

Complex carbohydrates contain many of the vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy body and immune system.

It is worth while considering organic or "free range" products when purchasing food. Mass produced foods (with a more commercial focus) may lack many natural and necessary nutrients. They also potentially containing harmful pesticides, hormones and other man made chemicals and sugars designed to encourage you to eat more of the unhealthy product.

Foods to avoid include most vegetable oils (extra virgin olive oil is fine), and refined carbohydrates (sugar, white bread, most pastas, white rice, cakes, chocolate, pastries etc). These foods (and other processed foods - cheap hotdogs, sausages, lunch meats) have generally undergone a great deal of human modification, and your metabolism, which has developed over many thousands of years to process natural foods, does not manage these synthesized foods very well.

Good foods to eat include:

Green, orange and yellow vegetables. Consider eating them raw for maximum benefit, or steamed/micro-waved, if desired, to retain the most nutritional value. Avoid boiling. Natural starch vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, parsnips, squash, beans, artichokes, yams etc are also good.

Meats including fish (sea food) and diary products are highly recommended. The more naturally the animal has been raised the better. Liver, kidney, heart and other organs are of primary nutritional value. Meats should be cooked enough to kill harmful bacteria, but resist over cooking. A balance of natural fats and oils in your diet is very important.

Fruits are generally good, and should be considered as your only source of sugar (though this will prove impossible). Consider limiting acidic fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes as they may have a negative impact on your teeth. There is also evidence of adverse affect on bones because a great deal of calcium is required from the body to neutralise the acid.

Consider water as your drink of choice. Add a slice of lemon if desirable. Herbal drinks are highly recommended. Avoid sodas and caffeine drinks.

Fresh clean air contains the most important nutrient (oxygen) the body needs for good health. When the opportunities present themselves (i.e. when you are in the country), it is well worthwhile taking a few moments to breath in deeply clean air. This also helps to calm stress and focus the mind.

Your Body Mass Index ( BMI ) can be used as an indicator in determining if you are overweight. To check your BMI, fill in the details below and click calculate: