Everyone wishes for good health. However, not everyone shares a common definition of what good health is, although a common starting point for any definition would have to include the term “nutrition.” Proper nutrition is required to keep a human body functioning, but what exactly is nutrition? Put simply, food is everything we eat that contributes to our health. Nutrition includes all the vitamins, minerals and foods that meet the basic needs of life.
In other words, good nutrition is key to avoiding a variety of health problems. The diet, the foods we eat, can either serve to prevent disease or promote negative health problems. Physical problems from chronic fatigue to skin and hair problems are often related to nutritional issues. A balanced diet ensures that nutrients are properly distributed in all areas of the body. Conversely, imbalance contributes to everything from feeling too tired to get up in the morning to male impotence. The secret is finding a balance that works for maintaining a quality of life that only comes from good health.
The human body needs many elements to function properly – to nourish itself properly. Water tops the list, followed by carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Each of the elements has a function in keeping the human body healthy, and an excess or deficiency of any element can cause adverse health effects. While there is debate as to which of these is the most important, the simple fact is that we must focus on finding a balance that meets the needs of the human body.
Diet is the most important element in maintaining a healthy nutritional balance. While some nutrients can be obtained by consuming supplements, the foods available should be used to meet the body’s normal needs. By being aware of our nutritional needs, foods can be selected to meet those needs. Unfortunately, this ability is not always self-evident. Every consumer needs to take the time to become aware of how the human body works and what foods enable those functions.
People can only maintain their health and prevent diseases by properly covering their nutritional needs. And only when we realize that the human body is essentially an engine that requires certain fuels can people enjoy good health. Vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins and fats are the fuels that keep the human body running. By educating ourselves about which foods provide these nutrients, our collective health can be improved, with a corresponding improvement in our quality of life.
Thanks to Aaron Waters
