Why is dietary intake important?
Nutrition is known to be the premise of obtaining good health. According to the article Evolution not Revolution: Nutrition and Obesity, "A person’s nutrition status is largely dependent on the quality and quantity of foods eaten, as well as the lifestyle which has environmental, social ecological, and political influences on self-determining adults’ personal knowledge and beliefs" (Rush 2017). In an obesity standpoint, consuming well over the recommended amount of calories can result in heart problems, respiratory problems, and lead to death. Being able to obtain the nutrients we need at a health rate is extremely important in our life expectancy and the quality of life.
Essential Macronutrients
Protein
Carbohydrates
Fats
Information
Nutritional Facts
- A healthy diet helps to protect against malnutrition in all its forms, as well as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. (WHO)
- The average daily calorie intake for that average person is 2,000-2,500 calories.
More facts can be found in the link below!
Organic vs. Inorganic
Organic produce is grown without synthetics such as chemicals and pesticides while inorganic produce does. Organic food eliminate the worries of the possibility of consuming chemicals. On the other hand, synthetics used on inorganic produce help control contamination of bacteria and mold toxins. Click below to learn more about the pros and cons of organic vs. inorganic produce!
Necessities to create a Balanced Meal
According to MyPlate, fruits and vegetables should take up half of your plate when eating as they provide a majority if the nutrients you need throughout the day. One-fourth of your plate should include grains, whole grains are heavily recommended, and the other fourth being protein. If you would like to learn more, click on the link below!
Foods to Avoid or Limit
- Foods with added sugars
- Unpasteurized food and drinks
- Sugar-Sweetened Drinks
- Foods high in salt
- White carbohydrates
- Baked sweets
- High fat and processed proteins
To learn more, click the link below!
If you are interested in learning how to read nutrition labels properly, click here!
References
- Rush, & Yan, M. R. (2017). Evolution not Revolution: Nutrition and Obesity. Nutrients, 9(5), 519. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9050519
- Which foods don't belong in a healthy diet? Harvard Health. (2016, October 28). Retrieved May 4, 2023, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/which-foods-dont-belong-in-a-healthy-diet
- What is MyPlate? MyPlate. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2023, from https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/what-is-myplate
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. (n.d.). How to understand and use the nutrition facts label. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved May 4, 2023, from https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/how-understand-and-use-nutrition-facts-label
- Organic vs inorganic foods. Search 1,000,000+ recipes. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2023, from https://www.bigoven.com/organic-vs-inorganic-foods#:~:text=Organic%20foods%20are%20food%20items,produce%20the%20finished%20food%20products.
- World Health Organization. (n.d.). Healthy diet. World Health Organization. Retrieved May 4, 2023, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet
- Kitchen, F. N. (2013, December 24). Pan-Seared salmon with Kale and Apple Salad. Food Network. Retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/pan-seared-salmon-with-kale-and-apple-salad-recipe-3361718
- Yearwood, T. (2015, December 18). Beef stir-fry. Food Network. Retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/beef-stir-fry-3364942
- Krieger, E. (2015, December 2). Tricolore Penne Pasta with chicken. Food Network. Retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/tricolore-penne-pasta-with-chicken-recipe-1951431