Good nutrition is the balance of an adequate diet combined with with regular physical activity and is essential for good health. Inadequate or poor nutrition can lead to decreased health and lowered immunity increasing the risk of disease. Insufficient nutrition can also result in impaired mental and physical development. Once food is ingested by the body it can be broken down into macro or micro nutrients. Macro nutrients are the structural, energy providing parts of food they are required in small amounts by the body.
The condition of our bodies determines the level of joy we experience in life. The choices we make about what we put into our body impact our ability to efficiently accomplish our day-to-day tasks. If we want a “high performance vehicle”, we need to provide it with “high performance fuel”. (E. Cheraskin) The body synthesizes non-essential nutrients but is unable to produce nutrients essential for proper body function so these must come from the food intake. Essential nutrients include substantial quantities of macronutrients; carbohydrates, protein, fats and water, plus small quantities of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals (Rolfes, Pinna, Whitney, 2009).
Conclusion A person’s ability to properly examine food labels can dramatically affect their general healthiness. A proper diet can be easily navigated if you only take the time to read and understand your food labels. Knowing the six key parts of a food label and remembering the 5/20 rule are two of the best ways to maintain a healthy
E1 describe the main food groups that are essential to meet the basic needs of the body There are five main food groups, These groups are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals and water. Each type of food plays a significant role in our body but excesses or deficiencies of certain types of food can also harm the body and produce a negative impact on our health. Food and the nutrients obtained from food are vital to keep the body healthy and alive. Nutrients are required in order to build and repair cells and body tissues, maintain the organs and bones in optimum working condition and to provide energy, fuel and warmth. Protein is needed in the diet for growth and repair of the body.
Keeping track of what foods are consumed and in what quantities is the first step to eating healthy. When a person overloads his or her plate with a lot of food and eats until the stomach will not take anymore that person is creating dangerous health problems for themselves. In order to avoid this, people should keep track of how many times or servings they have eaten. Also, eating foods that contain low calories and are rich in nutrients can give the person a good waistline to show off. Eating more vegetables and fruits and less junk food are a really good source of vitamins that the body needs in order to maintain a healthy diet (O’Connor, 2008).
Consuming the proper amount of macronutrients in your diet is essential for proper health and growth of your body. Proteins are needed to keep the body growing properly and cell growth. Eating too little will cause slow development and eating too many, the body will store the protein as fat. Carbohydrates give the body energy, like eating a snickers bar full of nuts will give the body a boost of energy. Eating the proper amount of carbohydrates will help the body to not store an excess amount of fat.
A diabetes diet is simply a healthy eating plan that is high in nutrients, low in fat and moderate in calories, but individuals have to pay attention to their food choices, especially the carbohydrates which can lead to excess weight if eaten in large amounts. The biggest risk factor for diabetes mellitus is being
“Fibers that cannot be digested by bacteria in the large intestines are called insoluble fibers because they do not dissolve in water.” (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006) High fiber diets can produce many benefits, including higher nutrient absorption levels, and better waste output. Diets that tend to lack in fiber or are high in insoluble fiber tend to cause gastrointestinal irritation and constipation. People that experience these symptoms should consider reviewing their fiber sources, and water consumption
Moderation is the key and smart eating can go a long way in helping a dieter achieve their healthy goals. Late night television infomercials, book stores and the internet abound with fad diets, but what really needs to be done can be accomplished with simple and straight-forward eating habits. One’s diet should be packed full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Poultry, legumes and seafood are excellent sources of lean protein. Servings of nuts and cooking with olive oil are great examples of unsaturated (healthy) fats.
High–protein diets not only limit some calcium sources, they can cause the body to lose calcium. * Constipation—MS can contribute to chronic constipation. A diet rich in fiber and fluids, along with exercise, is important to help manage this problem. Long-term safety The verdict is still out on the long-term safety of low-carb diets. They tend to be high in total fat, especially saturated animal fat, which has been linked to heart disease, cancer, and perhaps even MS.