Diet And Nutrition

Diet can be defined as the sum of food consumed by a person or an organism. Nutrition can be defined as food or nourishment needed to keep an organism growing, healthy and viable. Healthy diet and lifestyle are best weapons to control many diseases. A balanced diet comprising healthy and nutritional foods promotes good health. Consumption of food lacking nutrition and intake of wrong kind of diet leads to the accumulation of toxins in body. Good nutrition means our body is getting all the nutrients and vitamins needed to work at its best level. A nutritious and healthy diet helps to prevent many diseases. Some food habits may spoil our health and some foods can prevent or cure diseases. So it is important to draw up a balanced nutrition diet chart that ensures all the nutrients required on regular basis.

Healthy Food Groups

It is impossible to get all the nutrients essential to nourish the body with a single food group, so it is essential to consume a variety of healthy foods to gain the nutrition essential for human body. The main five food groups are

• Fruits & vegetables
• Fats, Oils and Sweets
• Cereals & Pulses
• Dairy
• Poultry, Fish& Meat Products

Fruits & Vegetables give fibre and important nutrients .Dairy is the best source for calcium which makes bones strong. Cereals and Pulses provide carbohydrate which gives energy. Poultry & Meat products serve proteins, iron & Zinc. So for a healthy diet it is necessary to include all these in diet.

Importance of Diet and Nutrition

The energy needed for our body to function is obtained from the food we eat. The main form of energy is carbohydrates which will break into glucose, fructose & galactose.protein in the food we eat is broken down into amino acids, which repairs muscles, immune system, hormones and nervous system. Calcium available from the food we eat keeps the bones and teeth strong. Fats- that our body gets from the food we eat are necessary to signal hormones in our body. A healthy diet provides our body with essential vitamins and minerals which activates chemical reaction in our body.

Proper Nutrition and Healthy diet play a vital role in preventing chronic diseases. Eating habits to a great extent contribute to the development of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and many other diseases. Developing a healthy food habit will prevent many diseases and will make you physically better and decrease the risk of chronic diseases.

Questions:

• Define Diet & Nutrition?
• Why is proper Diet & Nutrition important?