Good Nutrition
History
For hundreds of years the ancient Greek view was that all food contained a single essential nutrient since people were able to survive on varied diets, from coastal fish-based diets to inland meat- and grain-based diets. 1700s - Researchers in Europe started trying to analyze foods and realizing that a range of different foodstuffs were necessary for health. 1753 - James Lind, an English researcher, linked the disease of scurvy in sailors to a lack of fresh fruits in the diet. Once lemon juice and oranges were added to the dried meat rations, sailors were able to survive for months in relative good health. 1800s - a soldier shot in the stomach survived the gunshot would but was left with a gaping hole in his abdomen. William Beaumont, an American doctor, observed the inner workings of the soldier’s stomach through this hole and concluded that the stomach did not grind foods mechanically but dissolved them, and foods were dissolved at different rates. Over the years these and other observations advanced the study of nutrition. Importance of Nutrition Carbohydrates, fats and proteins have each got a specific function to serve in our bodies. The key to good health lies in maintaining balanced food nutrition. Our body transforms carbohydrates to sugar that gives in the necessary energy to perform daily activities such as work, study, or exercise. Carbohydrates can be found in fruits, and in whole grain bread, pasta, and rice. Proteins are the main components of the muscles of our body. Foods that provide protein include red meat, white meat, nuts, and dairy products. Doctors recommend eating more white meat such as fish and chicken than red meat. We must take care of our health, we must seek to achieve and maintain a strong, flexible and vital physique (the form or structure of a person's body). Adults should teach children a healthy eating habits because when you learn something from a small age it becomes a custom and you are more likely to follow this custom for the rest of your life. |
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