Nutrition Paper Essay Research Paper Most people

Nutrition Paper Essay, Research Paper

Most people know that good nutrition is important for good health. RecommendedDietary Allowances (RDA) are the daily amounts of essential nutrients that will preventdeficiencies in most healthy people. But not many people realize the importance a healthydiet can have on their health for years to come. To help us stay healthy a person shouldeat a variety of foods, maintain ideal weight, avoid too much fat, and eat foods withenough starch and fiber. A good diet helps children grow, develop, and do well in school. It also helps young and older adults to work productively and feel their best. A healthydiet can also lessen the risk factors for obesity and high blood pressure. For our benefit,the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department ofAgriculture has issued Dietary Guidelines. These guidelines are designed to helpAmericans choose the recommended number of daily servings from each of the fivedifferent food groups; Bread, Meat, Vegetable, Fruit, and Dairy. The Nutrition FactsLabel is made to help you buy foods that will meet the Dietary Guidelines. Mostprocessed foods now carry nutrition information. People need energy and essential nutrients. These nutrients are essential because thebody cannot make them and has to get them from food. Energy needs vary by age. Adultsneed less food than younger and more active individuals. People who are less active orare trying to lose weight will eat less food and have problems meeting their nutrient needs. Almost all Americans need to be more active, because an inactive lifestyle is unhealthy. Inorder to stay at the same body weight, people need to balance the amount of energy infood with the amount of energy the body uses. People need to put more energy into dailyactivities. The pattern of eating is also important. Snacks provide a large amount ofcalories for many Americans. Unless nutritious snacks are part of the daily diet, snackingwill cause weight gain. Also binge eating and fasting will add to weight problems. Maintaining weight in older people is important because they usually lose weight as they age. Some of that weight is muscle. People need to exercise regularly to maintain muscle,to feel better and to reduce the risk of falls and broken bones. The quality and variety of food in the United States allow almost everyone to have anutritious diet. Nutrients are divided into five major groups; proteins, carbohydrates, fats,vitamins and minerals. Each of these food components have a special function in thebody, and all of them together are needed for overall health. The body uses energy tofunction and keep itself at a constant temperature. Scientists have been able to find outthat the body gets its fuel from carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are the most available foods in the world. Carbohydrates in foods, likewhole grain breads and cereals, provide calories and nutrients and also increase dietaryfiber. Dietary fiber, like lettuce, if eaten daily, can decrease the risk of colon cancer. Ifthere isn’t enough carbohydrates in the body during exercise, the body tires faster.Research has proven that a daily diet high in carbohydrates is helpful. Most sportsnutritionists recommend a meal high in carbohydrates 3 or 4 hours before an event. Carbohydrates provide most of the energy in almost all people’s diets. The best sourcesfor carbohydrates are grains, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits. Fats Everyone thinks that fat in the diet is bad, but really the body needs it. Fat providesenergy by giving calories to the body. They are the most concentrated source of energy inthe diet. People need to watch how much fat they eat, not do without it entirely. Becausefat sources have little water in them, they take up less room, so we eat more fat withoutgetting full. So that’s why it is easy to get fat on a high-fat diet. Obesity increases the riskfor high blood pressure and eventually for stroke. It is also associated with heart disease. There is evidence that certain kinds of cancer like colon, lung, and bladder cancer run in people who have high-fat diets. It is also known that breast and uterine cancer are morecommon in obese women. Best sources of fat are margarine, vegetable/plant oils, nuts,meats, cheese, and cream. Protein The main purpose of protein in the body is to build and repair tissues. Most of thebody’s protein is located in the muscle tissue. Every cell in the body is partly made ofproteins. As a child grows, his muscles are built from proteins. A person with burns oropen sores need protein to heal these wounds. Also, if carbohydrates, starches, or fats areunavailable, protein can be used to supply energy. Everyone needs some proteineveryday. How much is needed depends on body size, rate of growth, and each personshealing requirements. The best sources of protein are eggs, milk, fish, meat, poultry, andnuts. Vitamins Vitamins help your body use carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. In most cases, vitaminscannot be made by the body and must be taken from food. Vitamins are necessary forgrowth, healthy skin, teeth and eyes, and cell formation. They are also important indigestion, mental alertness, and resistance to bacterial infections. All natural vitamins arefound only in living things, plants and animals. Good sources of vitamins are meat, fish,poultry, milk, fruit, breads, and cereals. There are 13 known vitamins, 4 fat-soluble and 9water-soluble vitamins. Fa