Food is a basic human need. The creation account in the bible tells us that the grass, herb yielding seed and tree yielding fruits (Gen 1:11-12) which later became food for man (Gen 1: 29) were already in existence before man was created (Gen1: 27). God created these foods for our good. In Ezekiel 47:12 we are told that, “the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine”. Therefore, there is a significant relationship between what we eat as food and our health or well-being.
The type of food we eat is a key universal factor that affects, as much as it defines, the health of all people. Hence the saying “you are what you eat”. This statement suggests that our health to a large extent is under our control. We can abuse our bodies by what we eat, drink or smoke. The body is the temple of the spirit of God (1 Cor 3:16) and we ought to glorify God in our bodies (1 Cor. 6:20).
Food is defined as a substance which when eaten sustains life and health. It can also be referred to as any edible substance (usually of animal or plant origin), consisting of nourishing and nutritive components. All foods (and drinks) from plants and animals contains a mixture of nutrients; it follows therefore, that no substance can be termed as food if it does not contain any nutrients.
NUTRITION AND HEALTH
It is generally believed that man has 3 basic needs: food, shelter and clothing. The most important of these is unarguably food as humans can survive for only a few weeks without food whereas there are millions of people in the world without clothing and shelter who nonetheless survive into old age. Health is influenced by a variety of factors – environmental, social and mental. One key environmental factor which is important in the promotion and maintenance of good health throughout the entire life course is diet. Diet plays a key role in the prevention of chronic diseases. It is a matter for regret however that despite the importance of diet in the promotion and maintenance of health most individuals in both developed and developing countries pay very little attention to their diet with very serious consequences for their health. There is increasing scientific evidence supporting the view that alterations in diet have strong effects, both positive and negative, on health throughout life. Most importantly, nutritional insults inflicted on an individual early in life have been shown to determine whether or not an individual will develop such chronic diseases as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes much later in life (Barker’s Hypothesis – Fetal origin of adult diseases).
What are some of the issues with our diet?
- Our supermarkets are full of convenient packaged foods that appeal to our taste buds, but compromise our nutrition. Because most of these foods’ natural nutrients are removed in the refining process, we need to get them elsewhere.
- Our diet relies heavily on processed foods that include artificial color, additives, flavorings, and chemically-altered fats and sweeteners. These additives and chemically altered substances may be giving our bodies the wrong signals, instead of the information they need to function properly.
- Our food is not the same as it was 20 years ago. Nutrients in the soil have been depleted, so food grown in that soil has fewer nutrients. Chemicals are increasingly used in raising both plants and animals, particularly on huge industrial farms that specialize in a few products.
- We tend to eat for convenience and speed, not health and pleasure. Our fast foods also remove us from the pleasures of creating and savoring a wonderful meal, and our fast pace often prevents us from connecting over a good, slow meal.
Carcinogenic Diets
- Low fruits and Vegetable intake
- Low intake of whole grains and fiber
- High dietary fat intake
- Nitrosamines, burnt and charred food e.g “suya”
- Alcohol consumption
- High animal fat, low plant-food intake
Atherogenic Diets
- High saturated fat (>10%calories) Trans-fatty acid intake
- Dietary cholesterol intake >300mg
- Excess alcohol
- High Sodium
- Low potassium
- Low milk and dairy foods
Obesogenic Diets
- Caloric intake exceeds needs
- Unstructured /Mindless eating
- Frequent fast-food consumption
- Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption
- Energy-dense, low-nutrient food choices
How does poor nutrition affect us?
Poor nutrition can impair our daily health and wellbeing and reduce our ability to lead an enjoyable and active life. In the short term, poor nutrition can contribute to stress, tiredness and our capacity to work, and over time, it can contribute to the risk of developing some illnesses and other health problems such as:
being overweight or obese, tooth decay, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and stroke, type-2 diabetes, osteoporosis, some cancers, depression, eating disorders.
Tips for a healthy diet
- Consume a variety of foods
- Keep an Eye on Portions
- Eat plenty of fruits and Vegetables
- Limit Refined Grains, Added Sugar
- Enjoy more Fish and Nuts
- Cut down on Animal Fats
- Shun Trans Fats
- Keep Sodium Down, Potassium Up
- Stay Active
Conclusion
You are wonderfully and fearfully made; do not try to look like someone else. Don’t wait for the best time to start living healthy, start now!
To be nutrition conscious is to be health conscious, a person who eats healthy is likely to live longer compared to a person who doesn’t.
Eat Healthy Foods!!!
Thanks for listening and God bless you all.
MRS JOY ONABANJO (RD)