Question

Discuss why nutrition is important to health?

Answer 1

INTRODUCTION

Nutrition is defined as the study of all the nutrients in the body .Diet means the total amount of food which a man consumes daily. A healthy diet includes all the important nutrients in the correct proportion.The important nutrients required in the body are carbohydrates,proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and water.

CLASSIFICATION OF FOODS

1. Energy giving foods- These are the foods which provide energy to our body to perform various activities (both voluntary and involuntary).

Examples:Carbohydrates- cereals like rice, wheat, maize, jowar

Fats - butter,ghee

sugar, jaggary, Honey

2.Body building foods-These are the foods which helps the body to build the muscle or to grow the body (skeletal system development).

Examples:Proteins-milk and milk products ,pulses and legumes, meat ,eggs

Minerals-fish(iodine,zinc)

3. Protective foods-These are the foods which protects  our body from all infections or diseases.

Examples:Fruits and vegetables

IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION TO HEALTH

1. Improves physical well being-Balnced diet  maintains the body weight which gives the physical well being. Eating natural foods helps to mainatain a healthy weight.

2. Boost immunity:Deficiency of a single nutrient can also alter the immunity.Zinc , Iron , Copper, Vitamin A,C, E , Folic acid can influence the immune process.

3. Decreases the occurance of diseases

a)High blood pressure-Eating too much salted foods like dry fish,pickles which leads to various heart diseases.

b)High cholosterol- Eating high cholosterol, high saturated fats and low polysaturated fats foods which also causes heart diseases .

c)Heart diseases- Hypertension and high cholosterol level can be the cause for heart diseases (atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease).

d)Diabetes mellitus-It is acondition in which the blood glucose level is too high and the pancreas is not producing adequate insulin to balance.A balanced diet with natural

4. Increases energy level- The carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, fibers, vitamins will help to increase the energy

5. Improves the abilility to recover from illness -Body building and protective foods plays a major role.Milk, cheese, Meat, eggs, ground nuts etc will help to repair the damaged tissues.

6. Improves the skin - The foods which contain Vitamin C , E improves the skin health(protection from sun burn)

7.Reduction of stress- Regular eating and drinking improves the immune system and stabilize the mood. Foods which contain Vitamin C like oranges and other citrus fruits helps to reduce the stress.

CONCLUSION

Nutrition requirement is different for each age group.Healthy diet through out the life is important to be a healthy and energetic life.