Durham, N.C. - What's the one ingredient that should be included in any diet plan? It's not a menu item, it's exercise. March is National Nutrition Month, sponsored by the American Dietetic Association, and this year's theme is "Healthy Eating, Healthy You." Elisabetta Politi, nutrition manager at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center, says combining physical activity with good nutrition makes for a more effective diet program.

"When you think of dieting, sometimes you think of deprivation, about not being able to eat our favorite foods. But when we exercise, we become a more efficient 'furnace,' because we increase our lean body mass, which burns more calories, which means we can also eat more calories without gaining weight."

Politi says we used to think of dieting just in terms of food restriction, but recent research confirms that no weight-loss program can be successful without exercise.

"Exercise is the strongest predictor that you're going to lose weight and not gain it back. And exercise also helps maintain a healthy weight."

Politi adds that, as we age, physical activity becomes even more critical to effective weight management.

contact sources :

Elisabetta Politi , 919-688-3079