Nutrition is the biological and physical process through which an organism utilizes food to support its existence. It involves absorption, assimilation, metabolism, biosynthesis and excretion among others. Nutrition is very important in ensuring the strength of our bodies and how they work. There are various nutrients including vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and other substances that are required for living. Some of these nutrients include fatty acids, vitamins B and C, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, iodine, and beta carotene.
There are different recommendations on the amount of nutrients that a person should intake daily. One of the most common recommendations is to eat a good amount of protein and carbohydrates in your diet. Protein can be obtained from meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, nuts and seeds. It is essential to include protein sources in your diet as they help in building strong muscles and building of strong bones.
Calcium is one of the most important minerals that provide the necessary nutrient for strong bones and teeth. It is essential for growing and repairing of bones and teeth. It is therefore important to ensure adequate intake of calcium in your diet. Vitamins are essential for assimilating nutrients and providing energy to the body. Vitamin D, however, is also an important substance for building of bones and teeth. Similarly, it is important to ensure sufficient intake of iron and folic acid that helps in preventing anemia and ensuring a healthy pregnancy.
Fruits and vegetables are considered to be rich sources of nutrients. The main reason behind this is that they contain high levels of water, fiber, and various kinds of antioxidants. It is therefore important to consume a large number of fruits and vegetables in order to gain an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals. Apart from fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, and legumes are also rich sources of essential nutrients. It is essential to ensure proper intake of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals in order to gain maximum benefits from nutrition.
A balanced diet is essential to prevent chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and many more. Diets that are rich in fat, salt, sugar, cholesterol, and trans-fats are harmful for health. It is therefore, important to choose the right kind of nutrition. In order to enjoy a healthy and fit lifestyle, it is necessary to eat the right kind of foods. Hence, nutritional supplements are recommended by experts of nutrition in order to meet the daily requirements of the body without facing any problems. Nutritional supplements are available in various forms like capsules, powder, tablets, or juice.
There are many factors that determine the nutritional value of a food or nutrient. However, one of the major factors that determine nutrition is diet. For instance, if you eat food with higher calorie level but low nutrient content, it will have little or no impact on your health. Hence, it is important to choose food choices carefully. Nutrient composition of different food choices can be studied during a study session. During the study session 2 nutrients, namely, macronutrients and micronutrients are studied.
Macronutrients refer to those nutrients found in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and other legume and meat products. These are called ‘good carbs’ and include carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Meanwhile, micronutrients are present in grains and vegetables, but they are classified as ‘bad carbs’ because they are believed to be fattening. Fats, on the other hand, include trans-fats, saturates, hydrogenated oils, and salt.
There are many benefits offered by nutritionally balanced foods, especially in the field of prevention and maintaining good health. These foods are rich sources of vitamins and minerals essential for human body functioning, but when it comes to their role in preventing and fighting disease, these foods are found lacking. Indeed, nutrition science has been found very effective in improving the health of humans and building healthy lifestyle.