Nutrition is a broad subject about food and nourishment. It also discusses food balance, dietary guidelines, and the functions of these nutrients to keep our bodies healthy. Every food we eat is composed of different nutrients and substances that maintain bodily processes.
All of us want to have a healthy body. In order to achieve that, it is essential that we are eating the right foods every day to provide our body the needed nutrition. Though many of us have food preferences, it is important that we always consume a balanced diet.
The food pyramid is a tool developed by the United States Department of Agriculture to educate people about optimum diet. It is a mnemonic pyramid graphic that shows the suggested percentage of the daily food groups. It determines how much food servings of these respective basic food groups that we should eat every day.
There are five main nutrients in food: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins. Each of them has their own functions in the body.
- Carbohydrates. Cereals, breads, rice, crackers and pastas fall into this category. Carbohydrates are made up of sugars, which are metabolized from its complex form, and which is the polysaccharide to its simplest form, the glucose. Glucose is the body’s main source of energy.
- Fats. Dietary fats provide us the necessary fatty acids that help manage body functions. These can be found in dairy products, oils, dressings, butter and eggs.
- Protein. Proteins that are found in meat, eggs, legumes and nuts are broken down into amino acids that are essential in tissue repair. It also maintains our body organs, muscles, blood and bones.
- Minerals and vitamins. These help grow and develop our body. Minerals and vitamins provide protection and boost our immune system keeping us away from sickness and infection. These are found in fruits and vegetables.
Eating a well-balanced diet ensures us that we are getting sufficient energy and nutrition for our optimal growth and development. It prevents us from getting sick and allows us to live a long and quality life.
