FOOD GROUPS AND THE IMPACT OF FOOD ON HEALTH

As the old adage goes "LET THY FOOD BE THY MEDICINE AND THY MEDICINE, THY FOOD". This simply puts everything into perspective. In layman terms what we eat will definitely reflect on our body. Our bodies are the mirrors reflecting just how much we put in them.If we get too much food, or food that gives our bodies the wrong instructions, we can become overweight, undernourished, and at risk for the development of diseases and conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease. Hence we should be very cautious of what we eat, keeping in mind the {GIGO}; garbage in garbage out theory.

IMPACT OF FOOD ON HEALTH

Food is any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth. From the definition we can actually derive the impact of maintain life and growth. There are very many other impacts but what is important about this section of this piece is that we need to understand the relationship between food and health so as to be able to control our vulnerability to disease.

WELL BALANCED MEAL

Eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and lean protein offers physical and mental benefits that will last a lifetime.

The World Health Organization identifies several important effects of a healthy diet on the body. Well-balanced nutrition bolsters our immune system, increasing our ability of fight illness and diseases. A healthy diet also reduces our risk of conditions including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and bone and connective tissue disorders.Because good nutrition is associated with healthy weight maintenance, it's no surprise that a good diet may improve our self-esteem. Giving our body the correct fuel will give us more energy and an overall sense of well-being. However food can also have a negative impact on our health which ultimately depends on how we use that food. For instance potatoes are a good source of carbohydrates, however when we deep fry them in fat and not drain excess fat from the chips we predispose ourselves to weight problems and possibly cardiovascular risks as well.

In conclusion food is very important to us in all aspects. In order for use to benefit from it most we should bring to perspective other factors like preparation, safety and hygiene as well as portions/ serving size. The next article will broadly discuss on food groups and portion sizes.