Personal Fitness Essay, Research Paper

Personal Fitness

Physical fitness is being healthy. To be healthy you must exercise, eat right and sleep well. When somebody is physically fit they fell better about themselves and they feel better physically. To become fit a person must work hard and eat right. They must eat healthy foods and workout or exercise regularly. One of the first steps to fitness is a healthy diet. There are six basic nutrients your body must have to stay healthy. Vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, carbohydrates and water. Your body must have these nutrients to maintain healthy. Vitamins are essential and vital to good healthy. Vitamins A is a fat soluble vitamin which means it needs fats or oils for your body to absorb it. It is needed for healthy bones, skin and hair. Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin”. It keeps your teeth and bones strong by increasing the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. It is acquired from diary products and the sun. Other vitamins include: vitamin E, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2; just to name a few. Minerals are inorganic substances that your body cannot make and are necessary to life. They are important for protecting our cells and helping to keep our bones, teeth and skin healthy. They also play a role in blood pressure, heart regulation and muscle regulation. Calcium is a vital mineral because 99% of all the calcium in our bodies is found in our bones. Iron is also an essential mineral. It aids in the production of hemoglobin, myoglobin some enzymes. Magnesium, copper, phosphorus and potassium are all examples of minerals. Proteins can be found in many foods but are more abundant in meat, fish, eggs, milk and diary products. Proteins are needed in the building of and restoration of body tissues. Proteins are not normally stored or accumulated like carbohydrates or fats. That means that they must be consumed periodically, according to a person’s sports or daily activities and to a person’s muscle mass. Carbohydrates supply energy to the body. Carbohydrates can be divided into two groups: simple carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates. The main difference between the two is the rate of absorption into the body. Simple carbohydrates like common sugar (all sweets, and junk food) provide immediate energy, but only for a short time. Complex carbohydrates (cereals and whole grain bread) are an excellent source of energy. They serve as long-term energy. They do not potentate weight gain like the simple carbohydrates. Fats are divided into animal (saturated) fats, and vegetable (unsaturated) fats. They provide the body with energy too. They keep the body functioning properly. Fats can be stored, but when consumed in large amounts they can lead to weight gain. Exercising is essential to maintaining fitness. It burns off extra fat and increases stamina and cardiovascular health. Exercising is different for everyone. Not everybody can run as fast or lift as much as somebody else. When exercising you should start small, and work your way up. You can weight train, run, and participate in sports. Steroids are used for personal and medical reasons. Some people take the easy way out and will use steroids when they lift for quicker results. Anabolic steroids are made from testosterone a male hormone. It will increase muscle mass but it could have permanent effects on the user. Girls who take anabolic steroids will grow facial hair, have their voice deepened, and they will become more manlike. Boys will experience testicular shrinking, impotence, and possibly prostate cancer. Both male and females could end up with liver and kidney problems, skin problems, and coronary artery problems.