What is Nutrition

Nutrition is the process of eating food and how the components of those foods fuel growth and development.  We need a good diet with proper nutrition to maintain and develop a healthy lifestyle. 

Nutrients

Food is made up of different types of nutrients that contribute to optimal health.  These nutrients include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water.  However, good nutrition can be a challenge for many individuals, especially those in low-income communities.  Those that do not consume a healthy diet, run the risk of becoming malnourished.

What is Malnutrition

Without the essential nutrients a body needs, an individual can become malnourished, and this in turn impairs physical and mental health and individuals suffering from malnutrition are more susceptible to diseases.  Malnutrition can also affect the functions of the body, such as brain, eyesight, organs, height, weight, as well and the formation of body parts if the child is still in the mother’s womb.

Malnutrition can incur not only from not eating enough food, but also from a shortage or imbalance of key nutrients in the diet.   A person can be obese and still be suffering from malnutrition, because they are eating the wrong foods, such as too much refined sugar and unhealthy fats.  Knowledge is everything!  You now know what nutrients are, but do you know what constitutes a proper diet to obtain good health and wellbeing?

Obtain a Healthy Body Eating Good Nutrition

Food supplies nutrients to the body, which helps the body grow, have energy, and stay healthy, and all foods can be part of a healthy diet. Bodybuilding supplements is a fast way to add nutrients into your diet, but you can not just live on powders and capsules alone. A healthy diet includes grain products, vegetables, fruits, low-fat, milk products, lean meats, fish, poultry, and dry beans.  Choose fewer foods that are high in salt, sugar, saturated fat or trans fats. 

The fats from meat, milk, and milk products are the main sources of saturated fats in most diets.  If possible, choice lean cuts of meat and trim the fat, chicken and turkey should be eaten without skin and preferably no dark meat, and dairy products should be low-fat.  Many dairy products are also sources of saturated fats.

It’s the total amount and types of foods we eat over several days that make up a healthy or unhealthy diet.  Therefore, be sure to eat a balanced meal to get the energy, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber you need for optimal health.  Also, water is a very important factor in overall health.  Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

It is also important to know how to read food labels, in order to be sure you are getting the correct nutrients from your food.  Food labels report on a variety of nutritional information, including calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, protein, and different vitamins and minerals. 

You must be pro-active when it comes to your health.  It is never too late, nor too soon to learn about nutrition.  Together with the Food Guide Pyramid and the labels on food packages, these tools can help guide you to better nutrition and a healthier lifestyle.