Nutritiona
l Health –
Maintaini
ng well-
being
Importance Of Eating A
Balanced Diet
Our bodies need nutrients to function effectively, without
a balanced diet our bodies will not receive all the
nutrients we need to be able to maintain our health,
making our bodies more prone to diseases, infections,
fatigue and low performance.
It is important to have a balanced diet from the early
years of life, otherwise it can cause growth and
development problems along with poor academic
performance and frequent infections. As well as this,
unhealthy eating habits occur from early childhood with
these problems persisting in adulthood.
Poor eating habits such as under- or over-eating, not
consuming enough healthy foods or consuming too many
types of food and beverages low in fibre and high in fat,
salt and sugar can affect the nutritional intake of the
person consuming these foods which can lead to
deficiencies occurring as they are not receiving the
energy, protein, carbohydrate, essential fatty acids and
the vitamins and minerals needed to live a healthy life for
our bodies to work properly.
Poor nutrition therefore leads to impairing of the persons
daily health and wellbeing. This will reduce their ability to
lead an enjoyable and and active life which can contribute
to experiencing stress, tiredness and capacity to work, as
well as risks to developing illnesses and health issues (SA
Health, 2020).
Without adequate exercise this increases the risk of
developing obesity alongside various diseases that make
up the metabolic syndrome such as non-insulin diabetes
, Concepts Of Food, Diet, Meals, Snacks
and Nutrients
Concepts Of Food
For the human body to function, it needs fuel to run. The
fuel for our bodies to function comes in the form of food.
Therefore the human body needs food for energy so that
we can keep warm as well as maintaining growth and
repair. Our bodies need nutrients on a daily basis to stay
healthy, we consume these nutrients from the food we
eat. The main nutrients our bodies need are carbohydrates, proteins and fats along with
mineral and vitamins. A good balanced diet of fresh food keeps our bodies healthy and allows
us to maintain our nutritional health (BBC, 2009).
Concepts Of Diet
Having a variety of fruit and vegetables in the diet
reduces the risk of developing lung cancer by as much
as 23 per cent with diverse diets as ideas. Our bodies
require amino acids, fats and vitamins to function
efficiently. We can get vitamins such as vitamin C, which
assists in chemical reactions, helps wounds to heal and
acts as an antioxidant, from many different types of fruit
and vegetables. We receive healthy fats, which is our main source of energy, from food
sources such as nuts, fish and oils. We can also receive amino acids from animal produce as
well as legumes and grains, the amino acids we consume are vital for building proteins which
are the structural components of our cells. Therefore consuming a varied diet provides us with
the dietary intakes we need to maintain our health (Science Illustrated, 2011).
Concepts Of Meals and Snacks
Our bodies need energy to get us through the day, and the energy
we need we consume from eating food. Therefore regular meals
throughout the day ensures that our bodies are receiving the
energy needed to perform effectively. Regular meals prevents
hunger pangs occurring between meals as well as prevents us
overindulging at meal times when we consume food. This relates
to the reasons behind why we should spread our food intake
across five to six smaller meals and snacks throughout the day
rather than eating three large main meals. If we were to skip meals this could cause us to be
, more likely to eat more at the next meal to make up for the losses in nutrients that have not
been obtained. As well as this, it is important to et breakfast as this refuels the body, without
breakfast it becomes harder for the body to function as effectively. Breakfast gives our bodies
essential nutrients and vitamins therefore skipping this meal makes it harder to make the
missed nutrients as the day continues (Lifestyle, 2010).
Concepts Of Nutrients
These compounds found in foods are essential to life and for our
health. They provide us with the energy our bodied need, they are
the building blocks for repair and growth as well as provide
substances necessary to regulate chemical processes. Without
nutrients in our diet, our bodies would not be able to survive
(Department Of Health, 2013).
What is Malnutrition, Under-nutrition,
Overweight and Obesity?
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the physical weakness and bad health of a person, this happens when too little
food or too little of the types of food necessary for good health are being consumed therefore
nutrients are not being consumed.
Under-nutrition
This is the lack of proper nutrition caused by not having enough or not eating enough food
containing the necessary substances for growth and health.
Overweight and Obesity
This refers to body weight greater than what is considered normal or healthy for a certain
height. Overweight can be due to variables such as extra muscle, bone or intake of water,
meanwhile obesity usually refers to too much body fat (NIDDK, 2018).
l Health –
Maintaini
ng well-
being
Importance Of Eating A
Balanced Diet
Our bodies need nutrients to function effectively, without
a balanced diet our bodies will not receive all the
nutrients we need to be able to maintain our health,
making our bodies more prone to diseases, infections,
fatigue and low performance.
It is important to have a balanced diet from the early
years of life, otherwise it can cause growth and
development problems along with poor academic
performance and frequent infections. As well as this,
unhealthy eating habits occur from early childhood with
these problems persisting in adulthood.
Poor eating habits such as under- or over-eating, not
consuming enough healthy foods or consuming too many
types of food and beverages low in fibre and high in fat,
salt and sugar can affect the nutritional intake of the
person consuming these foods which can lead to
deficiencies occurring as they are not receiving the
energy, protein, carbohydrate, essential fatty acids and
the vitamins and minerals needed to live a healthy life for
our bodies to work properly.
Poor nutrition therefore leads to impairing of the persons
daily health and wellbeing. This will reduce their ability to
lead an enjoyable and and active life which can contribute
to experiencing stress, tiredness and capacity to work, as
well as risks to developing illnesses and health issues (SA
Health, 2020).
Without adequate exercise this increases the risk of
developing obesity alongside various diseases that make
up the metabolic syndrome such as non-insulin diabetes
, Concepts Of Food, Diet, Meals, Snacks
and Nutrients
Concepts Of Food
For the human body to function, it needs fuel to run. The
fuel for our bodies to function comes in the form of food.
Therefore the human body needs food for energy so that
we can keep warm as well as maintaining growth and
repair. Our bodies need nutrients on a daily basis to stay
healthy, we consume these nutrients from the food we
eat. The main nutrients our bodies need are carbohydrates, proteins and fats along with
mineral and vitamins. A good balanced diet of fresh food keeps our bodies healthy and allows
us to maintain our nutritional health (BBC, 2009).
Concepts Of Diet
Having a variety of fruit and vegetables in the diet
reduces the risk of developing lung cancer by as much
as 23 per cent with diverse diets as ideas. Our bodies
require amino acids, fats and vitamins to function
efficiently. We can get vitamins such as vitamin C, which
assists in chemical reactions, helps wounds to heal and
acts as an antioxidant, from many different types of fruit
and vegetables. We receive healthy fats, which is our main source of energy, from food
sources such as nuts, fish and oils. We can also receive amino acids from animal produce as
well as legumes and grains, the amino acids we consume are vital for building proteins which
are the structural components of our cells. Therefore consuming a varied diet provides us with
the dietary intakes we need to maintain our health (Science Illustrated, 2011).
Concepts Of Meals and Snacks
Our bodies need energy to get us through the day, and the energy
we need we consume from eating food. Therefore regular meals
throughout the day ensures that our bodies are receiving the
energy needed to perform effectively. Regular meals prevents
hunger pangs occurring between meals as well as prevents us
overindulging at meal times when we consume food. This relates
to the reasons behind why we should spread our food intake
across five to six smaller meals and snacks throughout the day
rather than eating three large main meals. If we were to skip meals this could cause us to be
, more likely to eat more at the next meal to make up for the losses in nutrients that have not
been obtained. As well as this, it is important to et breakfast as this refuels the body, without
breakfast it becomes harder for the body to function as effectively. Breakfast gives our bodies
essential nutrients and vitamins therefore skipping this meal makes it harder to make the
missed nutrients as the day continues (Lifestyle, 2010).
Concepts Of Nutrients
These compounds found in foods are essential to life and for our
health. They provide us with the energy our bodied need, they are
the building blocks for repair and growth as well as provide
substances necessary to regulate chemical processes. Without
nutrients in our diet, our bodies would not be able to survive
(Department Of Health, 2013).
What is Malnutrition, Under-nutrition,
Overweight and Obesity?
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the physical weakness and bad health of a person, this happens when too little
food or too little of the types of food necessary for good health are being consumed therefore
nutrients are not being consumed.
Under-nutrition
This is the lack of proper nutrition caused by not having enough or not eating enough food
containing the necessary substances for growth and health.
Overweight and Obesity
This refers to body weight greater than what is considered normal or healthy for a certain
height. Overweight can be due to variables such as extra muscle, bone or intake of water,
meanwhile obesity usually refers to too much body fat (NIDDK, 2018).
