The Food Pyramid And Basic Nutrition
Food is important to man and all other living organisms. This is because food is the foundation of growth and development of the human body. Making the wrong choices of food has resulted in diseases and other related complications to the human body. This has been depicted in the over-consumption of some nutritional requirements such as proteins and the under-consumption of some nutrients like vitamins and sterols. Nutritionists and food scientists have advised people to change their eating habits particularly in the daily intake of some of the food substances. Emphasis has been put on eating less, exercising more and making informed wiser food choices. The scientists have prescribed the right amounts of each food to be taken by individual based on their age and other size characteristics. The amounts of food a weight lifter eats cannot be the same at to that of an individual who is hardly involved in exercises. Foods contain different nutrients that perform their specific roles in the maintenance of the body at optimal conditions. Important nutrients like lipids and sterols perform among other roles, the lubrication of the cell membrane. Without sufficient supply of these nutrients the body is unlikely to operate as required. Indeed the inadequate supply of such nutrients has led to serious dietary problems. The over-consumption of proteins and carbohydrates has resulted in the emergence of lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. These are complications have become a very common phenomenon amongst Americans. Research studies have indicated that heart related problems have become a big threat to mankind especially in the industrialized countries of the world.
Most people who do not make wise food choices are prone to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and high blood pressure. It is indeed from this basis that food scientist’s advice people to eat the right amounts of food and exercise a lot. (Faiella, 2009).
Scientific research has led to the design of specific allotments of the nutrients required by the body. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), essential components of a healthy diet have been ignored by most people in America. They give examples of foods rich in vitamins and whole grain to be very significant in the diet yet most people have tended to under consume or completely ignore the foods that are a powerhouse to healthy living. According to the Healthy eating pyramid by the Harvard school of public health, good health is founded on weight control and daily exercise. They argue that the two things are very significant in influencing the chances of an individual staying healthy.
The importance of the nutrients specifically to the basic unit of life which is the cell has been addressed by USDA and food scientists. Scientists have studied the structure of the cell with particular concern to the nutritional requirements. Through studies the exact amounts of nutrients required by the cell for healthy living have been derived. It is from such scientific backing that the researchers have come up with conclusions that an over dose or under dose of some nutrients in the diet results in problems like the lifestyle diseases.
It is vital to underscore that the USDA is concerned about the good health of all Americans. This is why it has provided the new guidelines for the healthy eating of Americans. All the efforts aim at reducing the risk of exposing Americans to lifestyle diseases that have become prevalent due to ignorance on the important aspects of diet by majority of the citizens.
In conclusion, it is important for people to exercise healthy living by adhering to what is prescribed in the food pyramids so as to avoid lifestyle diseases.
Processing your request, Please wait....
