Nutrition is all about eating a healthy and balanced diet. The food and drink we consume provide the energy and nutrients we need to be healthy. Understanding the benefits of nutrition may make it easier for you to make better food choices.
A healthy diet throughout life promotes and supports profitable growth and development of our bodies. Good nutrition helps to maintain healthy body weight and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Healthy eating and a balanced diet lead to the overall health and well-being of our lives.
The seven main types of nutrients are carbohydrates, fats, roughage, fibre, minerals, protein, vitamins, and water.
Carbohydrates: Why Carbs Are Great Benefits Of Nutrition
Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy. Carbohydrates are in a broad array of both good and harmful foods—cookies, spaghetti, bread, beans, milk, popcorn, potatoes, soft drinks, corn, and cherry pie. They also come in a mixture of forms. The most popular and plentiful carbs are sugars, fibres, and starches.
The important thing about nutrition is the type of carbohydrate you choose to eat. Making the right choices is important because some sources are better than others. In fact, the number of carbs in our diets are not so important. The kind of carbohydrate we consume is the most important. For example, whole grains such as barley and quinoa, whole-wheat bread and rye, are far better choices, They have more benefits of nutrition than the highly refined white bread or French fries.
Many people are worried about carbohydrates. But please bear in mind that it’s more important to eat carbohydrates from healthy foods than having strict diets. Some people are wrongly counting the number of grams of carbohydrates in the meals they are consuming.
Fats: Why Fats Are Necessary Source Of Food Energy
Fats are a source of food energy and necessary in a healthy balanced diet. You get fats from the type of meals you consume. It is essential to have some fats but not too much. The fats you feed on give your body the energy it needs to function well.
Dietary fats are required to give the body energy. Fats support cell increase, and they also help to preserve the organs and help keep the body warm. Fats help the body to digest nutrients and produce vital hormones, also.
A little amount of fat is essential for a healthy balanced diet. Fat is a source of necessary fatty acids, which the body needs but cannot make by itself. The body needs fat to help it absorb vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E. These vitamins are fat-soluble, which the body can only use with the help of fats.
Roughage: Know Why Roughage Is Essential Food Source For The Useful Bacteria
Roughage is the part of plant foods which the body can’t digest by itself. But, it’s still an essential food source for the useful bacteria in the gut. It may also help weight control and reduce some risk factors of heart diseases. Dietary fibre might help to lower high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, both are risk factors for heart diseases.
High-fibre foods like whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, legumes and fruits help slow digestion. Slow digestion may help steady the blood sugar levels by reducing the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Some studies have shown that fibre helps to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels.
Minerals: Why Minerals Are Great Benefits Of Nutrition
The body needs and uses minerals for many different kinds of jobs. These jobs include keeping the heart, brain and bones working correctly. Minerals are also essential for producing enzymes and hormones. Macrominerals and trace minerals are the two kinds of minerals the body uses.
The two groups of minerals are equally important. However, trace minerals are less than the significant minerals in their quantities. The amounts required in the body do not imply their importance. A balanced diet generally provides all of these essential minerals, which are benefits of nutrition.
Water: Why Water Is Indispensable
Water is odourless liquid at room temperature; it can dissolve many other substances. It carries nutrients to all cells in our body and oxygen to our brain. Water flushes out toxins and waste and helps to regulate body temperature.
Water is a transparent, tasteless, odourless, and nearly colourless chemical substance which covers about 70% of Earth’s surface. All living things need water to survive. Rivers, seas and oceans are full of water.
