Diet & Nutrition

What Is Diet & Nutrition?

Diet can also refer to the food and drink a person consumes daily and the mental and physical circumstances connected to eating. Nutrition involves more than simply eating a “good” diet it is about nourishment on every level. It involves relationships with family, friends, nature (the environment), our bodies, our community, and the world.

Diet refers to the total amount of food consumed by individuals; whereas nutrition is the process of utilizing food for growth, metabolism and repair of tissues. The relationship between these two is 2-way; health status can be affected by nutrient deficiency and vice versa.

Choices about nourishment are very much linked to other human beings and other life forms on this planet, so healthy (and unhealthy) decisions have great impact.

What is the importance of diet and nutrition?

A healthy diet is essential for good health and nutrition. It protects you against many chronic noncommunicable diseases.

such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats, are essential for healthy diet.

The 5 food groups.

vegetables and legumes (beans)
fruit.
grains and cereals.
lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes (beans) tofu, nuts, seeds.
milk, cheese, yoghurt or alternatives.

Nutrition is a critical part of health and development. Better nutrition is related to improved infant, child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, lower risk of non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and longevity.

Adults who eat a healthy diet live longer and have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Healthy eating can help people with chronic diseases manage these conditions and avoid complications.