By Merrlyne Cherotich
The importance of nutrition, as an integral part of the solution to many societal, environmental, and economic challenges facing the world, has just started to be fully appreciated. Good nutrition can simply been defined as, eating a balanced and healthy diet, ensuring the body gets nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to function properly and to work its best.
Better nutrition has been related by World Health Organisation (WHO) 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.
The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) research has found that proper nutrition offers one of the most effective and least costly ways to decrease the burden of chronic and non-communicable diseases and their risk factors, including obesity. Studies have linked increased whole-grain intake to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Fresh fruits and vegetables supply energy as well as dietary fiber, which promotes the feeling of satiety and improves gastrointestinal function and cholesterol levels. In addition, fresh fruits and vegetables are key sources of phytochemicals (e.g., polyphenols, phytosterols, carotenoids), which are bioactive compounds believed to confer many of the health benefits associated with fruit and vegetable consumption.
The mechanistic effects of these various phytochemicals are unclear but include their antioxidative properties, as well as their role in regulating nuclear transcription factors, fat metabolism, and inflammatory mediators. For example, flavonoids have been shown to increase insulin secretion and reduce insulin resistance, suggesting that these phytochemicals provide some benefits in obesity and diabetes.
Furthermore, good nutrition has been proven to keep skin, teeth, and eyes healthy, support muscles, boost immunity and help the digestive system function.
Poor nutrition is detrimental to mental health wellness. Diets that are high in refined sugars can be harmful to the brain and promote inflammation and oxidative stress. It can impair the brain and how it functions and worsen symptoms of depression. When a person is already struggling with a mental health disorder, their nutrition may not be adequate. They can make poor food choices and select foods that contribute to their symptoms of depression.
Certain foods are particularly rich in healthful components like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and antioxidants, which support brain health. Introducing these types of foods into your diet can improve your brain’s health, leading to better mental health function.
Diet and nutrition can influence the quality of your sleep, and certain food and drinks can make it easier or harder to get the sleep that you need. At the same time, getting enough sleep is associated with maintaining a healthier body weight and can be beneficial for people who are trying to lose weight. Recognizing the connections between sleep and nutrition creates opportunities to optimize both in order to eat smarter, sleep better, and live a healthier life.
Certain types of food such as tomatoes and berries can increase vigour and improve cognitive performance, all the while protecting your body against the effects of aging.
In conclusion, good nutrition is something that everyone should work towards. Good nutrition contributes heavily to your overall health and wellness and should never be skimped on.
To further improve your nutrition, doctors recommend use of dietary supplements. Supplements add nutrients to your diet lowering the risk of health problems. You can purchase various supplements through MYDAWA and delivered to you the same day.
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