This week’s Speedo Tip of the Week comes from nutrition counselor Jessica Knowles. Knowles offers some advice on eating a variety of food.

Knowles’ Tip:
Broaden your horizons when it comes to trying new foods. The reason why we say to eat a variety of foods is due to the nutrients each food contains. Go to mypyramid.gov to give you a guide to eating a well-rounded diet.

I don’t recommend supplements for getting vitamins and minerals into your body. Your body absorbs nutrients from food better than a pill, and there are things like phytochemicals in fruits and veggies that cannot be reproduced in a lab. Also, the dietary supplement industry is not as strictly regulated as the foods we eat, and supplements may contain prohibited substances not listed on the label.  They are classified as “Take at Your Own Risk” for Doping Control.  (For more information visit www.usantidoping.org).

And just because your weight and blood pressure are normal doesn’t mean you’re necessarily healthy. How are your blood lipids (i.e., Cholesterol, HDL, LDL)? Foods that come from an animal source will have saturated fat and cholesterol in them. That’s why beans/legumes are also recommended as a protein source that has no cholesterol or saturated fat.

Being picky isn’t going to cut it when it comes to your health. When you eat better, you perform better. It’s that simple.