Explain the concepts associated with nutritional health.
Explain the concepts associated with nutritional health
In order to answer this question it is important to have a structure, starting with food which is defined as, “any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth.”
The food that we eat makes up our diet. Nutrients can be described as “a substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.” Nutrients can then be split up into 2 groups, micronutrients and macronutrients. Macronutrients are proteins, fats and carbohydrates; they are called macronutrients as they are required in large masses in order to fuel the body. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals; unlike macronutrients they are required in smaller amounts, they are essential for the normal functioning of the body.
There are also substances added to our food typical to improve or preserve it called additives. Some examples of this could be, pickling with vinegar or salting typically done with bacon, both of these examples are done in order to preserve the food. However, the increased amount of processed food has increased the amount of additives introduced, both natural and artificial substances.
Nutritional supplements are also sometimes added to the diet to boost overall health and energy. For example, an elderly person may take a high calorie supplement if they are unable to eat as they normally would. Similarly a patient in a hospital may be given supplements in order to boost their calorie intake.
Food fortification is the process of adding micronutrients to food. The purpose of food fortification is to strengthen the foods that we eat. Some commonly fortified foods are cereals, milk products, fats, oil, tea and other beverages.
Energy balance refers to the energy we consume through eating compared to the energy we use throughout the usual workings of the body and our activity. Having an energy imbalance can cause harm to the body.
In order to answer this question it is important to have a structure, starting with food which is defined as, “any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth.”
The food that we eat makes up our diet. Nutrients can be described as “a substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.” Nutrients can then be split up into 2 groups, micronutrients and macronutrients. Macronutrients are proteins, fats and carbohydrates; they are called macronutrients as they are required in large masses in order to fuel the body. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals; unlike macronutrients they are required in smaller amounts, they are essential for the normal functioning of the body.
There are also substances added to our food typical to improve or preserve it called additives. Some examples of this could be, pickling with vinegar or salting typically done with bacon, both of these examples are done in order to preserve the food. However, the increased amount of processed food has increased the amount of additives introduced, both natural and artificial substances.
Nutritional supplements are also sometimes added to the diet to boost overall health and energy. For example, an elderly person may take a high calorie supplement if they are unable to eat as they normally would. Similarly a patient in a hospital may be given supplements in order to boost their calorie intake.
Food fortification is the process of adding micronutrients to food. The purpose of food fortification is to strengthen the foods that we eat. Some commonly fortified foods are cereals, milk products, fats, oil, tea and other beverages.
Energy balance refers to the energy we consume through eating compared to the energy we use throughout the usual workings of the body and our activity. Having an energy imbalance can cause harm to the body.