We are what we eat. Nutrition is the number one contributor to our health. Many of us are not sure what is contained in the foods we eat and hence have no knowledge of what your body takes in. The body does not take that sweet and crunchy image that the eyes see, it takes the mineral and building component of the food. This brings with it many challenges since a lot of information is out there about nutrition.

Nutrition is an individualized thing what may work for me may not work for every other person, it is important to first understand yourself and your needs. Go talk to your nutritionist, have body checkup done on you and then discuss what is good for you.

Also, when choosing your diet be sure to understand the budget you have in hand and don't strain yourself with things you can't afford, ensure what is recommended for you is easily available at your local store. If you have any health issues, be keen to follow your doctor's recommendation or whatever you buy goes to waste. Go here

There are. However. a few basics about nutrition that one should understand, these are the main pillars for any nutrition recommendation.

Water

They say water is life and it truly is, our bodies are 80% water and this must be kept constant if we want a healthy body. You should take at least 8 glasses of water daily to keep your body hydrated, this ensures that the body's metabolism goes on well. Lack of enough water causes intoxication to the body organs and cells, water washes away waste products from the cells which if not removed may be toxic to the body.

Fruits

You should take at least five different types of fruits daily. Fruits contain a lot of minerals and vitamins which are essential to the body. Most fruits also contain lots of water to keep your body hydrated. Fruits are rich in antioxidants which help increase our immunity against diseases. Have a variety of fruits in your kitchen, however don't keep them in the fridge for too long or this will lose their nutrients.

Fish

Have at least two servings of fish per week and one should be oily fish like salmon or tuna. Fish have omega 3 and 6 which is important for healthy growth of the brain, eyes and healthy joints.

Nuts

Hard nuts contain essential nutrients for the general growth of healthy body. Take nuts at least once per week or better grind them and add them to your porridge flour.

Whole grains and vegetables

Cereals are very essential for a perfect abdomen, they help reduce gastro-intestinal problems since they contain fiber which is very important for our bodies. Fresh green vegetables contain a lot of vitamins and should be included in most meals. Unsaturated fats Fatty foods are the highest cause of many obesity problems and also heart related diseases take more of low- fat foods with unsaturated oils. For cooking use vegetable oil like sunflower which is more healthy.

Lean meat

If you eat a lot of meat, buy lean meat and more often buy white meat like that of poultry. These are lower on fat.

This are the key pillars for many nutritionists, you can find out more about their benefits as explained here in detail.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthy_diet