World Nutrition Day – Let’s Understand the Basics of Nutrition
By Nmami Life Editorial 28-May 2020 Reading Time: 6 Mins
Proper nutrition is a pre-requisite for the smooth functioning of the body. With thousands of information available out there, understanding the basics of nutrition has become one of the important aspects that need proper care and attention. Proper nutrition not only ensures full and fine growth but it also decreases the risk of various diseases while making you all hale and hearty. Obviously, a well-balanced and healthy diet help in balancing the correct proportion of nutrients but the understanding the basics is that simple key that helps you to nourish with the correct nutrients.
So, let’s sort out the riddles of nutrition by deciphering the basics. Here, we jot down the details of very basic nitty-gritty that are essential to make yourself happy and healthy. It will definitely help you in fabricating healthier choices and enrich your body with every essential nutrient.
- Calcium is a must-have: When it comes to health, calcium is an essential nutrient that your body requires for effective and smooth functioning. Calcium not only strengthens the quality and density of bones but it also makes your teeth strong and powerful. Not only this, but calcium also plays various other roles in the human body and is extremely essential in muscle contraction, building strong bones, decreasing the risk of blood clotting and to balance various fluids in the cells. Dairy products like low-fat milk, cottage cheese, yoghurt, green leafy veggies like broccoli, cabbage and okra, and nuts are high in the calcium content. Include such food items in your diet to get the most of this nutrient.
- Don’t forget to add fibre: No matter at what age you are, fibre is extremely important for your overall body and it can benefit your gut health like no other. Consumption of foods that are rich in fibre can ease out the various digestive issues and it also helps in regulating the bowels which can relive the problems like constipation. Further, it helps you to feel fuller for a longer period and reduces your cravings of junk foods and hence assists in maintaining a healthy weight, lowers down the blood sugar levels and improves cholesterol. To get the proper dosage of fibre add foods like whole grains, oats, fruits like berries, melon and oranges, vegetables, nuts and seeds in your diet.
- Protein is the key: Protein is required by your body to build and repair tissues. Each and every cell in the body is thoroughly fabricated thorough protein and it helps in making enzymes, hormones and chemicals in the body which helps in the smooth and effective functioning. Protein support and help in the formation of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood and that is why it is known as the building block of the body. Add high protein sources like milk, eggs, tofu, legumes and whole grains in your diet to enhance the quantities of protein in the body.
- Antioxidants: Not very well known, but antioxidants defend the body from the storm of various harmful chemicals and it safeguards the body’s cells from destruction. Add antioxidants rich foods like berries, citrus fruits like kiwis, oranges, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers in your diet to get the maximum dosage of antioxidants.
- Vitamins: Vitamins are those micronutrients that your body needs to consume from outside. Vitamins help in the smooth functioning of the body and it aids in good overall health and well-being. Be it giving a quick boost to the immune system or maintaining healthy skin or proper working of the nervous system- there are plenty of benefits that Vitamins offer to the human body. The high dosage of Vitamins is found in vegetables and fruits. Try to incorporate different types of fruits and veggies in your diet to enrich your body with each and every Vitamin.
Footnote
The nutrients mentioned above are the basic necessity of the human body. Just stick to the basics to get the proper nourishment from within.