“You are what you eat!” You’ve heard it said time and time again, but what does it mean? No one ever started sharing characteristics with a banana or looking like a crown of broccoli.

The thing is, nutritive value, the good stuff that’s in the food you eat, plays such an enormous role in your life. It quite literally has an impact on the kind of person you are. It affects your mood, health, attention span, and even your love life.

The CDC found that around 10% of the US population is deficient in one nutrient or another. But that’s just if you want to tick the box marked ‘okay.’ What if you want to be better than okay? Perhaps, you’d like to be the best you can be.

In this article, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about the nutritive value and answer the question ‘why is nutritive value important?’

What Is Nutritive Value?

Just like human beings, foods are made up of loads of different stuff. When you go and buy pre-packed food, you’ll notice a long list of different things on the back. I’m not talking about the ingredients. It will be a list of the nutrient content of that food. Commonly referred to as the ‘nutrition facts label’.

The most commonly listed different nutritive values include:

• Carbohydrates
• Protein
• Fats
• Sugar
• Vitamins (such as vitamin B and C)
• Minerals (such as zinc and magnesium)

Each food packet will tell you how much each component of food you’re getting. Usually per 100g or their recommended serving size. They will also tell you what percentage it is of your RDA of each component, such as fat and protein. It’s important to remember though, that if you’re trying to live your best ‘non-dadbod’ life then you might need more than what’s recommended in the dietary guidelines.

How Do You Find Nutritive Value

If you’re eating pre-packed foods, then finding the nutritive value is no problem, just look at the label. However, if you want to get the most nutrients from your food then you should be eating fresh.

The problem here is that loose fruits and vegetables seldom come with any nutritive value information. Everyone knows it’s a good idea to eat a few portions of greens a day, but how do you work out exactly what you need? What’s more, how do you work out exactly what you’re getting from your fruit and vegetables?

Here we have to rely on our good old friend, the internet. This might sound like a lot of work when you’re just starting, but don’t panic. You can easily search for the nutritive value of every food you’ll ever put on your plate. Simply click here and you can search for each food individually.

No one is expected to memorize the nutritive value of every single drink, food, and carbohydrate. The best thing to do is start thinking about the foods you like to eat and the foods you think you should be eating more of. From here you can easily start to build your meal plan.

There’s a good reason why athletes and bodybuilders follow a strict diet. It’s easier for them to keep track of exactly what they’re eating.

Why Is Nutritive Value Important?

Without further ado, this is the reason you’re probably here: Why is it so important that you keep tabs on everything you’re eating?

Eating the right foods goes far beyond just losing weight. Of course, eating healthy and exercising regularly is the best way to shed your Dad Bod, but there are a lot more reasons you should be making sure you put the right foods in your mouth.

Let’s take a look at some pretty convincing reasons you should be paying attention to the nutritive value of what you eat.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the more prevalent contributor to heart disease in the US. Processed foods and foods that are high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat will reap havoc with your blood pressure.

You need to start making sure that your diet is heart-friendly. Look for foods that are rich in potassium and magnesium such as spinach and pumpkin seeds. Beets, carrots, and celery all help to relax the blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

Strengthen Your Immune System

Your immune system is constantly dealing with the day-to-day poisons of the world. It’s worth investing in keeping it as strong as possible. Fortunately, there are several foods that you can be eating to help safeguard your immune system.

Citrus fruits, garlic, leafy greens, ginger, blueberries… The list goes on. All these foods help to keep your immune system at its best. A weakened immune system means that you’re going to spend more time unwell so it’s worth staying on its good side.

A Better Sense of Well-Being

People tend to forget that their state of mind is little more than a series of chemical reactions. Combining nutritive value with regular exercise can do wonders for your mood.

A healthy diet will help give you a clear mind, reduce stress and keep your energy levels up. However, some foods are better at it than others. If you want to feel happier and put a spring back into your step then try loading up on these:

• Blueberries
• Fatty fish such as salmon
• Avocados
• Coffee
• Dark chocolate
• Brocolli
• Nuts
• Yogurt

All of these foods can help protect you from mental health issues and contribute to an improved sense of well-being.

Keep Chronic Diseases and Obesity at Bay

Carrying more body fat than you need doesn’t just make you look ridiculous in your favorite Speedos, it’s also an open invitation for chronic diseases. Paying attention to the nutritive value of food can help keep you free from:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Osteoporosis

All of these conditions are linked to poor nutrition and can be kept at bay by cutting out the bad stuff and replacing it with foods packed with essential nutrients.

Beating Your Dad Bod With Nutritive Value

Understanding nutritive value is a must when it comes to choosing what you put in your body. Your diet should consist of as much fresh food as possible. Get lots of lean protein, healthy sources of fat and carbohydrate, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

If you’re ready to sign up for a better life and invest in the years to come then it’s time to sign up for the Dad Bod Bootcamp. Contact us today to find out how we can help you to live your best “non-dadbod” life.