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Why do we need nutrition

Nutrition is the processes that are associated with the ingestion and utilization of food for growth, repair, and maintenance of the body. These processes are related to ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and excretion, together comprising metabolism within the body. Nutrition is essential for sustaining life, maintaining a healthy body, and for preventing disease. Nutrients are substances within food that when ingested provide nourishment. So, to keep all the functions of the body systems in harmony, balanced nutrition must be achieved by eating an adequate amount of each nutrient from a variety of foods.

7 Essential Nutrients

The human body constantly needs a variety of nutrients for growth and development. These nutrients are always supplied from outside the body in the form of food. Additionally, some nutrients are synthesized by the body, such as B vitamins and vitamin K. Food consists of macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, that the body needs in large amounts, are the body's primary sources of energy. The body sources energy first from carbohydrates, then from fats, and lastly from proteins, particularly when carbohydrates and fats sources are low. Micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, are required by the body in trace amounts. Vitamins and minerals function as coenzymes which are essential for facilitating biochemical reactions within the body. These are necessary for digesting food, energy production, growth, brain function, wound healing, nerve and muscle functions, and for repairing all cells, tissues, and organs within the body. In addition to macronutrients and micronutrients, the body requires daily a moderate amount of water, equivalent to approximately 12 cups, with 8 cups typically obtained from water itself and the remaining 4 cups derived from food and other beverages. This water is essential for bodily functions such as circulation, digestion, absorption, and elimination of wastes. Fiber, a type of carbohydrate found in plant-based foods, is necessary daily in moderate amounts for detoxication and to support colon function. An inadequate or unbalanced intake of essential nutrients can lead to the development of diseases. 

Diet associated with lifestyle-related diseases

Nutrition can play a role in either directly or indirectly in preventing or treating diseases. Cancer, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, atherosclerosis, allergies, and degenerative diseases are referred to as lifestyle-related diseases because they are often influenced by one's lifestyle. These lifestyle-related diseases can be partially caused by nutritional factors such as overeating, an unbalanced diet, and unhealthy eating habits. In other words, all these lifestyle-related diseases can be prevented or treated by healthier dietary habits and a healthy lifestyle. To prevent lifestyle-related diseases, it is very important to get the balanced amount of nutrients from a variety of fresh and organic foods in the right combinations daily. For example, fats are not unconditionally harmful or bad for the body. The human body needs fats from short-chain, medium-chain, and long-chain fatty acids, and from saturated and unsaturated fats, but their amounts consumed matter for overall health. Fats are essential for producing energy, transporting fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K and essential fatty acids, for protecting the internal organs, such as the heart and kidneys, and for the maintenance of every cell membrane, of every organ and tissue. As a result, an adequate amount of the needed fat is essential for maintaining a healthy body. However, it is important to acknowledge that even healthy foods like nuts can have negative effects on health if consumed in excess, leading to lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity. Too much or too little intake of each nutrients can result in imbalanced nutrition and other unpleasant associated diseases. Therefore, the human body requires daily balanced nutrients according to each person's stage of life and body condition. 

A balanced diet daily depends on wise choices

A balanced diet is the source of balanced nutrition. Balanced nutrition is at the core of a healthy lifestyle and contributes to overall general health. A healthy and balanced diet consists of, whenever possible, natural and organic foods in proper portions based on factors such as age, lifestyle, and overall health. A balanced and healthy diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, moderate amounts of dairy products (for adults, preferably low-fat), lean meats, seafood, eggs, beans, soy products, and legumes. It also includes appropriate amounts of essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6) and vegetable oils, an adequate amount of unsalted seeds and nuts, and sufficient intake of water and fibre, Other foods, however, should be limited or completely avoided as much as possible. These foods include sodium or salt-cured or smoked, and nitrate-treated meats, snack food containing saturated and trans and hydrogenated fats, refined grains, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. All these foods have negative effects on the general health of the body, especially when taken in large amounts regularly. Healthy and balanced nutrition changes over one's life can vary for each person, as the amount of required nutrients depends on factors such as gender, age, periods of growth, activity level, body size, stress and illness, pregnancy and lactation, and current surgery or injury. 

Along with recognizing the importance of nutrients, it is essential to understand that the nutrients within the foods we eat influenced by factors such as how foods are prepared, how we eat, what we eat, the amount we eat, and when we eat. For example, some nutrients, such as B vitamins, can be easily destroyed or depleted through factors like heating during cooking, oxidation during storage and preparation, exposure to light, acidic or alkaline environments, or when exposed to antibiotics taken as medication. Minerals, like nutrients, are obtained from food and similarly susceptible to depletion and impact due to factors such as food preparation, eating behaviours and patterns. For example, calcium, a mineral, plays a crucial role in maintaining strong bones and teeth, as well as supporting heart, muscles, and nerve functions within the body. Excessive consumption of calcium can reduce the body's absorption of other minerals such as magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc. Additional factors that can deplete minerals in the body include dietary choices such as consumption of processed and refined foods, foods high in sugar, caffeine and alcohol, as well as vegetables grown in poor soil. Other factors include overconsumption of oxalic acid found in foods like uncooked spinach, beet greens, chard, rhubarb, cocoa, chocolate as well and phytic acid found in whole grains or fiber-rich foods, and through a lack of exercise and too much stress. To maintain a healthy body and life, it is important to have knowledge to be able to make nutritional and lifestyle choices using proper wisdom, and to consistently engage in actions that form good habits.

Holistic Nutritionist provided services include the following:

• Document client's goals, needs, and plans
• Evaluate client's food eating habits selection, preparation, and intake
• Discuss client's lifestyle and overall feeling of well-being
• Identify client's nutritional and lifestyle imbalances and habits
• Guide client in the implementations of a long-term personal health plan, provide additional education and information assistance, and offer ongoing assessments