Nutrition and health, in fact, are two sides of the same coin. They are, therefore, inseparable. Health depends to a large extent on nutrition, and nutrition depends on the food intake. So food is the most important single factor for health and fitness.
Let us define and describe food, nutrition, health, and fitness
• Food can be defined as anything solid or liquid which when swallowed,
digested, and assimilated in the body provides it with essential substances
called nutrients and keeps it well. It is a basic necessity of life. Food
supplies energy and enables the growth and repair of tissues and organs. It
also protects the body from disease and regulates body functions.
• Nutrition is defined as the science of foods, nutrients, and other
substances they contain; and their actions within the body including
ingestion, digestion, absorption, metabolism, and excretion. While
this summarizes the physiological dimensions, nutrition has social,
psychological and economic dimensions too.
• Nutrients are the constituents in food that must be supplied to the
body in suitable amounts. These include carbohydrates, proteins, fats,
minerals, vitamins, water, and fiber. We need a wide range of nutrients
to keep ourselves healthy. Most foods contain more than one nutrient
such as milk has proteins, fats, etc. Nutrients can be classified as
macronutrients and micronutrients on the basis of the required
quantity to be consumed by us every day. The figure on the next page
shows us the distinction between macronutrients and micronutrients.
The growth rate speeds up dramatically. This growth spurt occurs due to the activity of hormones that affect every organ of the body and this makes healthy eating very important. The nutrient needs rise throughout childhood, peak in adolescence, and then level off or even diminish as the teenager becomes an adult. The saying ‘‘You are what you eat” seems to be proven true. We eat different kinds of food such as dal, chapatti, bread, rice, vegetables, milk, lassi, etc. All these different kinds of food provide us with nutrients to keep us healthy and active. It is important to know what food to eat in order to stay healthy. The science of food and nutrients and their action on our health is called Nutrition.