Nutrition And You

Nutrition and You


     Nutrition is the relationship of foods to the health of the human body .

Proper nutrition means that you are receiving enough foods and supplements for

the body to function at optimal capacity.  It is important to remember that no

single nutrient or activity can maintain optimal health and well being, although

it has been proven that some nutrients are more important than others.  All of

the nutrients are necessary in different amounts along with exercise to maintain

proper health.

     There are six main types of nutrients used to maintain body health.

They are: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water .  They

all must be in balance for the body to function properly.  There are also five

major food groups. The groups are: fats and oils, fruits and vegetables, dairy

products, grains, and meats.

     Exercise is also an important part of nutrition.  Exercise helps tone

and maintain muscle tissue and ensure that the body's organs stay in good

condition.  Healthy eating without exercise will not result in good nutrition

and a healthy body - neither will exercise without nutrition.  The most

important thing about exercise is that it be practiced regularly and that it be

practiced in accompaniment with a healthy diet.  It is also desirable to

practice more that one sport as different sports exercise different areas of the

body. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the sources of energy for the body.

The contained energy is expressed in calories.  There are 9 calories per gram in

fat and there are about 4 calories per gram in proteins and carbohydrates .

Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body.  This energy is mostly

used for muscle movement and digestion of food.  Some sources of carbohydrates

are : grains, fruits, vegetables, and anything else that grows out of the ground.

 The energy in carbohydrates is almost instantly digested.  This results in a

quick rise in blood sugar which is soon followed by a drop in blood sugar which

is interpreted by the body as a craving for more sugars.  This sugar low may

also result in fatigue, dizziness, nervousness, and headache.  However, not all

carbohydrates do this.  Most fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains are

digested more slowly. Fats, which are lipids, are the source of energy that is

the most concentrated.  Fats produce more that twice the amount of energy that

is in carbohydrates or proteins.  Besides having a high concentration of energy,

fat acts as a carrier for the fat soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K.  Also, by

helping in the absorption of vitamin D, fats help make calcium available to

various body tissues, in particular, the bones and teeth.  Another function of

fat is to convert carotene to vitamin A.  Fat also helps keep organs in place by

surrounding them in a layer of fat.  Fat also surrounds the body in a layer that

preserves body temperature and keeps us warm.  One other function of fat is to

slow the production of hydrochloric acid thereby slowing down digestion and

making food last longer.  Some sources of fats are meats and nuts as well as

just plain oils and fats. Proteins, besides water, are the most plentiful

substance in the body.  Protein is also one of the most important element for

the health of the body.  Protein is the major source of building material in the

body and is important in the development and growth of all body tissues.

Protein is also needed for the formation of all hormones.  It also helps

regulate the body's water balance.  When proteins are digested they are broken

down into simpler sections called amino acids.  However, not all proteins will

contain all the necessary amino acids.  Most meat and dairy products contain all

necessary amino acids in their proteins.  Proteins are available from both

plants and animals.  However, Animal proteins are more complete and thus

desirable. Knowledge of the nutrients and their function is essential to

understanding the importance of good nutrition.  As mentioned above, there are

six nutrients. All 
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