If you are never given much thought to nutrition levels, it can seem overwhelming. You can experience info overload due to all that is out there about what your body needs and wants. But here, you'll fins some great simple tips that will help make things a bit clearer for you.

Although salads are healthy, the salad dressing is not. Dressings which are creamy have high fat and are low in nutritional value. Instead, opt for vinaigrette-style dressings or create your own simple dressing using olive oil and vinegar. Simply adding a few cranberries and walnuts to your salad is also an excellent idea.

Look at the labels of processed foods very carefully. Sometimes products are labeled as low fat, but they have more sugar or salt than the high fat version to make up the difference in taste. Overly processed food is not ideal for your diet when you are trying to lose weight. A label ought to have ingredients mentioned in lay man's terms so everyone can understand them. If half the ingredients are artificial flavors with polysyllabic names, then give the food a pass.

You need to have riboflavin in your diet. It is necessary for releasing energy from protein, carbs and fat. It's also an important part of the metabolic system and helps transport iron to different parts of the body. You can find riboflavin in dairy and whole grain foods.

Substitute lean ground turkey for ground beef. This will cut down on saturated fat and calories. Avoid dark meat. Dark meat's nutritional value is similar to that of ground beef. Some ground turkey contains ground dark meat. Avoid this.

You may be tied up in security, waiting for your flight or flying on a plane that does not serve meals. See to it that you always have these bars ready until you have the chance to eat a regular meal.

It is important to get adequate amounts of calcium. Foods that contain a lot of calcium include green vegetables, beans, sardines, and of course, milk. In order to maintain your teeth and build strong bones, you must get sufficient calcium. Calcium deficiency can cause a brittle bone disorder called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, a very painful disease, gradually causes bones to become soft and brittle.

As mentioned, to sustain life you need proper nutrition. Sorting through all available information can become overwhelming; however, if you begin with the basic concepts of nutrition, you will be well on your way to helping keep your body get in optimum shape. Apply the tips given and you are going to improve your life!