The Important Role of Food in Our Lives

Firstly, in order to obtain good health we need to consume a daily balanced diet. To do this, we must consume the daily amount of food requirements. In a balanced diet, there are seven essential components. These are:

The links to good nutrition in diet and health are scientifically proved from many studies. Good and proper nutrition helps to maintain good health and prevent disease. A diet of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean and low fat meat, and dairy are essential for a healthy balanced diet. However, a well balanced does not include foods that contain added sugars, high sodium, saturated fat, and high caloric foods. Good nutrition is a valuable asset. Well fed people are more likely to be healthy and productive. Everyone benefits from good nutrition.

Carbohydrate is a nutrient essential for energy production and the prevention of ketosis, a state where the production of ketones exceeds metabolism. Protein is a nutrient essential for its components, amino acids. Fat is a nutrient which provides insulation, protection and energy for the body.

A “balanced diet” is a diet that consists of the nutrition that the body needs to function properly. “The body needs at least six ounces of grains. Two-and-a half cups of vegetables. Two cups of fruits. Three cups of milk or dairy products. And, five-and-a half ounces of meat and beans or protein”. These measurements are quoted from the “My Pyramid” chart, which has a specific amount and type of food needed for a balanced and diet daily.

A rightly balanced diet is defined as one which is composed of different types of foods in such quantities and proportions so that the requirement for proteins, vitamins, minerals, calories and other nutrients is adequately met.

The term “diet” has many assumptions as to what it means or what it is or which kind is the best. The term Diet is a “balance of energy nutrients and adequate levels of vitamins, minerals, and water” (Mader, 2016). There are so many different types of diets that are made popular by mainstream media such as the Atkins Diet which is a low carbohydrate diet and the Paleo Diet which mimics a caveman approach to eating, which means eating only meats and vegetables. Not all the diets that are being advertised nowadays are perfect or with in nutritional range of what the human body was designed to consume.

A healthy diet consists of a variety of nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, fats, water, vitamins, and minerals. Healthy eating means

|What does it mean to eat a balanced diet? Why is food choice important for good nutrition? |

The Oxford dictionary describes diet as ‘the kind of food that a person, animal or community habitually eats’. (Oxford dictionary, 2015) A balanced diet is one that gives our body the nutrition it needs in order to be able to function properly. The body uses food as an energy source, keeping this well balanced by ensuring the right amount of proteins, vitamins and minerals are included is essential for the body to stay healthy. A healthy diet should also be enjoyable as well. Research has shown that a healthy diet may

A healthy diet provides the body with the necessary nutrients: liquid, a sufficient amount of essential amino acids from the protein [1] Essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and enough calories. The requirements for a healthy diet can be met from a variety of botanical and animal foods, even though those following a vegan diet need non-animal sources of vitamin B12 [2]. A healthy diet supports energy needs and provides nutrients to the human body without exposure to toxicity or heat consumed in the body in excess of the body's required weight. A healthy diet, in addition to exercise, is considered as an important factor in reducing health risks such as obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cancer [3].

The human diet is shaped in evolution. We spent millions of years in a foraging lifestyle and our genome still expects us to eat this way (Gluckman et al., 2016). But recently we have adopted a new post-industrial lifestyle that seems to go against our genetic makeup because there is an increasing trend of metabolic diseases in our society. We noticed this trend decades ago and have been trying to explain it. In 1962, geneticist James Neel proposed the thrifty gene hypothesis, saying that some of our ancient ancestors with a gene variant that allowed them to store calories as fat prevailed because it gave a survival edge during times of famine (Johnson and Andrews, 2015). That is a great advantage during Paleolithic times when food could

The food that we consume is well assimilated in our body and is used for the growth and maintenance of body tissues. Life cannot exist without food, and it is for this reason that every living organism strives to obtain its food requirements. It has been seen that the satisfaction of hunger is usually the main factor for a satisfactory food intake. It is very important that for sustaining a healthy and normal life, diets should be planned with the scientific knowledge of nutrition. It is very essential to learn the general principles and considerations that govern the planning of balanced diets.

Food is always critical for people’s living. People gain nutrients from foods to maintain their body from function properly. However, food can also cause negative effects on human body when taking wrong foods, such as diabetes. Michael Pollan, an author who is best known for writing about food, has stated that corn is the major factor that caused American to have unhealthy diets and Americans need to consume less of corn processed foods. In his book, Omnivore’s Dilemma, Pollan has made a good argument by providing significant resources to back up his argument and he has discussed both the pros and cons about corn that has let the readers to fully understand the situation.

Food habits is about what food we eat, how we eat and why we eat it, depending of several factors linked to establish patterns and different manners across cultures. On the other hand, dietary behaviors are generally associated with dietary patterns related to selecting low-fat diets, which are not always related to good eating habits. With this in mind, people who make any kind of low fat diet, should be aware in when their eating habits and their dietary behavior are working in the same way to have a healthier nutrition and when not.

No matter what era or culture it is, there has always been food. Food is essential to living. It is no wonder that every generation enjoys food differently. One era put their own twist and style to their food. The food that they made then still affects the people in the world today. In the Renaissance era, food played an important role in distinguishing classes, celebrating traditions, and determining health.