Nutrition and healthy eating habits

Food is essential to remain alive and to supply the body with energy and the chemical substances (nutrients) required for the formation, growth and reconstruction of tissue. Therefore food and nutrients and eating and nutrition are different concepts.

 

Eating is a voluntary process used by humans to obtain substances suitable for consumption. These substances are modified as they are chopped, cooked, put into people’s mouths, chewed and swallowed. This is when the process changes from eating to nutrition. Nutrition is an unconscious and involuntary process during which the body receives, transforms and uses nutritional substances (the simplest chemical substances) obtained in the food.

 

The two processes are not synonymous. Eating food to satisfy your appetite is not the same as supplying the body with substances to keep it healthy, maintain physical efficiency and perform basic routine tasks.

 

Nutrition is the consequence of eating, that is, of the food in the diet and its intake.Therefore, eating can only be considered to be healthy and suitable when:

• It is sufficient to meet the body’s requirements and to maintain equilibrium
• It is complete and varied in its composition and includes a daily intake of all nutrients in certain quantities and proportions, depending on age and circumstances.
• It is adapted to the different requirements of the body according to each case: to remain healthy, to help prevent illness, to ensure the healthy growth and development of children
• It is adapted to the needs and energy expenditure of each individual.

There are many different ways to feed a person but there is only way to nourish them. The number of meals that can be made from the different foods is varied, however when the food is reduced to just a few nutritional substances in the digestive system, nutrition becomes monotonous and unitary.

 

Therefore, if we want to stay healthy, we should be aware of the body’s needs and of the composition of the different foods and nutrients. This enables us to assess whether our normal eating habits are correct and, if this is not the case, to adapt our diet accordingly.

 

Good nutrition is the consequence of healthy eating habits.