March is National Nutrition Month

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) has designed the annual National Nutrition campaign to focus attention on the importance of developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

Educating yourself about nutrition, making informed food choices, and including daily physical activity into your routine can positively affect your health, now and into the future. The ADA provides up to date, tangible food and nutrition information for consumers and health professionals.  http://www.eatright.org

A favorite resource that the ADA recommends is the website for The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The DHHS, in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), offers scientific-based advice and guidelines including a recently updated food pyramid that is a particularly useful tool.

According to the USDA it is important to reach and maintain a healthier weight for your overall health and well being. If you are significantly overweight you are at greater risk of developing disease.  Of these diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and cancer rank the among the highest risk. Even dropping a few extra pounds as an obese adult can have positive health benefits, make you feel better today, and stay healthy for tomorrow.