What is Nutrition? Why is it Important?

Hi, this is my first blog post and so let’s start with the basics- NUTRITION!
In today’s post, I am going to answer the following questions-

What is Nutrition? Why is it important? Why do we need a Nutritionist?

Wikipedia says, “Nutrition is the science that interprets the nutrients and other substances in food in relation to maintenance, growth, reproduction, health and disease of an organism. It includes ingestion, absorption, assimilation, biosynthesis, catabolism and excretion.”

And WHO says, ” Nutrition is a critical part of health and development. Better nutrition is related to improved infant, child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, lower risk of non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and longevity.”

In simpler words, NUTRITION is related to the NUTRIENTS (some healthy substances) present in our food and their absorption by our body. Nutrition is important for our growth and development. It also includes the process of selection of foods that we consume and how we consume. Nutrients provide NOURISHMENT.

Nutrition is important because if people do not have the right balance of nutrients in their diet, they have an increased risk of developing many health diseases like diabetes, coronary heart diseases (CDH), hypertension, cancers and various other deficiencies.

Our Nutrients are broadly divided into two categories-

1. MACRO NUTRIENTS- Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats.
2. MICRO NUTRIENTS- Vitamins, Minerals, Fibre, Water etc.

Broadly talking about

CARBOHYDRATES:

Carbohydrates are the best sources of Instant Energy. It includes Fibre, Sugar (simple carbs) and Unprocessed Starch (complex carbs).
1g of Carbs give us 4 calories.

Proteins:

Proteins are the building blocks of our body. They are of two types- DISPENSABLE AMINO ACIDS (DAA) or INDISPENSABLE AMINO ACIDS (IAA). We have a total of 22 amino acids.
1g of Proteins give us 4 calories.

Fats:

After carbs, Fats are the largest and the cleanest source of energy. They help in reducing mood swings and cravings. We have Saturated and Unsaturated fats.
1g of Fats give us 9 calories.

Vitamins:

We have around 13 vital Vitamins broadly classified as Fat-Soluble and Water-Soluble Vitamins. We have Vitamin A,B,C,D,E,K.

Minerals:

Another important substance that our body needs to function. They are divided into two categories- Macro Minerals (needed in large quantities) and Trace Minerals (need in small quantities). We have various minerals like, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Sodium, Copper, Chromium, Iron etc.

Water:

Water as you must know, 70% of our bodies are made up of water (hence, the daily weight fluctuations). A human body can survive without food for 50 days, but without water, it can only survive for 5 days. It’s often recommended to consume 1litre/20kgs of body weight everyday.

Now to answer the last question:

Who is a Nutritionist? Why do we need a Nutritionist?

A Nutritionist or Nutrition Consultant is someone who has studied about nutrition through self-study or formal education, but they do not meet the requirements to use the titles RD (Registered Dietician) or RDN. Nutritionists often work in the food industry and in food science and technology.

A Nutrionist can also help the clients develop better eating habits, achieve their weight-loss and fitness goals and ultimately maintain healthy and fulfilling lifestyle changes.

Nutritionists primarily work with individual clients. As an expert in food and nutrition, Nutritionists advise people how to live a more healthy lifestyle and achieve health-related goals. 

I promise, this journey is going to be very exciting and full of foods you love.

SUMMARY

NUTRITION IS A PART OF OUR WELL BEING AND IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. IF YOU WANT TO LEAD A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, YOU DEFINITELY NEED A NUTRITION CONSULTANT TO ACTIVELY PLAN YOUR MEALS AND WORKOUTS.