Nutrition is the moment an individual consume food to fuel the body the essentials it needs to be able to run efficiently and grow. Nutrition is the sum of the processes by which an animal or a plant takes in and utilizes food substances. (“Nutrition”, 2017) The process of obtaining foods that is necessary for health and grow (“Nutrition”, 2017).
Nutrition is important to health as it is directly related to the mental and physical state of an individual. The substances that the body receives from the food intake will be the ones that will be used to generate more energy as well prevent possible diseases from materializing. Determining the nutritional requirements of the body is vital to maintaining the systems running in it to stay efficient and maintained. The study of nutrition dates back to the 18th century, when the French chemist Lavoisier discovered a relationship between our metabolism of food and the process of breathing. In this point of time, the observation of the chemist Lavoisier proved that the consumption of food substance and the breakdown of its nutrients can be associated to the behavior of the human body, specifically breathing. As these scientists delve deeper into that discovery, the more they understand the keys underlying to the utilization of the nutrients within food. The information determining the nutrients that the body requires prevents possibilities of diseases to be acquired in the future. By the early 20th century, scientists had found that diseases — such as beri beri, rickets, scurvy, and pellagra — were associated with certain diets (Nutrition, 2017). By 1912, the Polish chemist Casimir Funk had found a substance (vitamin B1) that actually prevented beri beri, and he named it “vitamine.” Later it was found that these diseases were caused by the lack of specific nutrients — vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin B3 (niacin) respectively. For example, antioxidants like beta carotene, selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin C, when consumed in foods, appear to protect against the development of heart disease, cancer, and other chronic degenerative diseases (Nutrition, 2017).
Vitamin and mineral sources helps configure the nutrition or body needs to be able to function efficiently. Vitamins are any of a group of substances that are found naturally in many foods. Vitamins are necessary in small quantities for good health and normal development and functioning of the body (Vitamin, 2017). Minerals are elements or compounds that are naturally existent within organic matter including the human body. Vitamin and mineral sources are vital to the body for it to be able to grow. They work hand in hand to give off the body the essential nutrients it needs to function efficiently.
For example, the mineral zinc and vitamin A. Zinc enables the body to use vitamin A to promote good vision. Not getting enough vitamin A may lead to night blindness, a condition in which the eyes have trouble adjusting to darkness. Zinc supplementation may help prevent this condition by helping the body use vitamin A. Another example is calcium and vitamin D. Calcium, which is very important in bone and heart health, is more readily absorbed if vitamin D is also present (Nutrition, 2017). Memory loss, dementia and numbness in the arms and legs can occur when the body lacks cobalamin also known as Vitamin B12.These may be prevented by consuming foods that are high in vitamin B12 such as meat poultry, fish, milk, cheese, eggs, fortified cereals and fortified soymilk. Another nutrient deficiency can cause burning feet and other neurologic symptoms. This can occur when the body lacks pantothenic acid also known as vitamin b5. one can avoid this by including chicken, whole grains, broccoli, mushrooms, avocados and tomato products in his diet.
The nutritional value of the food we intake should always be considered as it is vital to the maintenance of a healthy body. The state or condition of the body is related to the nutrition it gets. The understanding the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals that the body requires to satisfy the nutritional requirements for doing activities is indeed important. With this information, an individual can be helped in avoiding possibilities acquiring certain diseases from lacking nutrients that the body needs. Alternatives in term food consumption, vitamin intake, and the planning of right diet can be improved with the right nutrition. Nutrition is important to keeping a healthy body and a sound mind. Nutrition is important for us to understand the substances that are integrated with the body as we consume food; aware of its value and purpose.
References
Nutrition. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2017, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nutrition
Nutrition. (n.d.) Retrieved May 10, 2017, from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/nutrition
Nutrition. (n.d.) Retrieved May 10, 2017, from http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/treatment/nutrition
Vitamin. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2017, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vitamin
(2009, June) Listing of Vitamins Retrieved May 11, 2017, from http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/listing_of_vitamins
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