Four Lessons in Nutrition - Basic Concepts

Nutrition is the biological and chemical process by which an organism uses food as a medium for the support of its physiological life. It consists of absorption, assimilation, fiction, metabolism, biosynthesis and excretion. It also involves all the processes which determine the quality and nutrients of the food and determine the development of the organisms. Nutrient deficiency results in the death of the organisms and nutrition deficiency causes in developed animals retarded growth and other physical deformities. Nutrition is a science whose exact definition is extremely difficult. It is dependent on the type of organism, its physiological conditions, environment, parasites, diet and its behavior.

The nutritional requirements of an average human being are estimated at about 2 800 calories per day. However there are wide ranges in this requirement making it difficult to say what exactly is healthy for us. The concept of nutrition is generally understood to mean good nutrition or balanced diet. A well-balanced diet is one in which the food you eat contains all the essential nutrients necessary for your body to function normally. Foods that are rich in protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals and fiber contribute to a healthy diet.

Carbohydrates provide energy. Proteins are used to provide the body with the materials necessary for building and repairing muscles. Fats are necessary to provide energy and protect the body from damage. In fact, all the fats can be classified as nutrition because they provide energy and are necessary to live.

The first step in establishing a good nutritional regime is understanding how the food choices affect your nutrition. During your first study session 2 nutrients were presented to you; food that had no calories and food that had some calories. You then had a list of food choices and had to choose the ones that meet your recommended daily allowance of those nutrients. You would need to compare these food choices against your list of required nutrients.

Your second study session taught you how to choose carbohydrates, fat and vitamins. This includes learning about the difference between solid foods like potatoes, rice, bread, vegetables and fruits, and partially digested foods such as beans and foods containing sugar, salt, or sugar substitutes. It also included discussions on the optimum times to eat certain foods. Your nutritionist would guide you with these discussions and help you choose foods that meet your recommended nutrient needs. Again, you would need to check these foods against your list of required nutrients.

Your third study covered the topic of fruit and vegetable food groups. You were introduced to terms like primary food groups and secondary food groups. These food groups are based on what you might eat more of or less of. It also included discussions about how important it is to eat whole grains, how the food groups can be combined, the benefits and limitations of fruits and vegetables and the combination of both.

The fourth and last lesson covered the topic of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids (EFAs). It was designed around the concept of nutritional deficits and your role in maintaining healthy nutrient levels. There were several examples include a discussion on low vitamin D, the effects of environmental contaminants on the B vitamins, and the impact of saturated fats on the health of your heart. Your nutritionist will help you make the right decisions regarding your intake of these nutrients.

With this information, you have a good base from which to begin creating nutritious meals and snacks for your loved ones. Remember, your nutritionist is just one of many people who will advise you regarding what and how much of particular nutrients you should include in your daily diet. It is important that you take their advice seriously, but in addition, remember that you are the one who will have to actually put in the effort to make certain that the foods you eat do enough to fulfill your body's needs.

What Food Allergies Is and How You Can Recognize Them

Food allergies occur when the body's immune system wrongly identifies proteins found in certain foods as a potential threat. Because of this, some chemicals are introduced into the body which result in an allergic reaction. It is these chemicals that ultimately cause the actual symptoms of a food allergy. If left untreated, however, food allergies can lead to severe illness and even death. Peanut and tree nuts are two of the most common food allergies. Many children have a food allergy to either one or both tree nuts and/or peanuts. A severe reaction may take hold if they are exposed to both tree nuts or peanuts at once. Overdosing on peanuts or tree nuts (especially peanuts) can lead to a life threatening high fever. Tree nuts and peanuts are both protein rich and have a long chain of amino acids. They are also both rich in protein and have several essential amino acids necessary for human development. For this reason, they are frequently found in a person's diet. They are als...

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Allergic Reactions in Dogs

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Have you ever considered cold or allergies? Colds are one of those things that seem to always aggravate the sinuses. It is a common fact that colds can cause more pain and discomfort than they do good. If you're wondering if there are any better options, you might want to read on. Here is a breakdown of the colds and allergies that you might experience if you have a cold or allergies. The common cold is caused by the virus rhizome and the glandular cells that are in the nose. When the temperature outside is cold, the cold virus settles in your lungs. This causes the symptoms that we all know - sore throat, stuffy nose, congestion, headache and general fatigue. In addition, the cold may also bring about a cough. This is usually accompanied with other symptoms like a runny nose and a sore throat. The common cold is not as common as some might think. Statistics show that over half the people get colds at least once during their lifetime. When the cold is gone, it doesn't mean that...

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