Humans are living organisms that are in continuous motion. Even when we are asleep we have a great brain activity. It needs, therefore, a continual supply of energy through food.
1. Balanced diet
Food provides the nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, carbohydrates and water) that allow us to be in good health. Adequate nutrition is very important to fight disease. You eat intermittently, but the energy is constantly required, as there are organs such as brain, liver, kidneys, etc.., Which can not be long without nourishment.
To avoid this situation, metabolism and hormones help to form a series of deposits such as fat and glycogen (a type of carbohydrate), so at times when not taking food, such deposits can be mobilized to maintain constant energy supply.
The human body consists of many key elements such as cells, clustering, build bones, muscles, brain and other structures.
However, to maintain health are necessary only a few substances: Amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. We talked about the essential nutrients.
2. Essential Nutrients
Nutrients. The food we provide the necessary nutrients for life.
Essential nutrients are supplied by food. These are divided into three groups, depending on the role they take in our body:
Plastic food: Those are used to build new structures in the body or to repair the tissues that become worn with daily functioning. They are rich in protein and mineral salts (Milk and milk products, meat, fish, eggs, etc.)..
Food energy: They are essential to provide the energy we need in all our activities, even during sleep. Incorrectly are avoided by the population, especially when dieting are not controlled, since a balanced are essential to our body. Energy foods are sugar, bread, nuts, legumes, pasta, etc..
Food regulators: They are those that help maintain the reactions that provide energy and ability to build or repair our tissues (metabolic reactions). Vitamins, minerals and water which are found in foods like milk, vegetables, fruit, etc., Are in this group.
The type and amount of essential foods to avoid disruptions of health depend very important factors:
- Age: They have the same needs that a child is a person growing into adulthood.
- Sex: man needs Constitutionally usually more energy intake than women.
- Physical activity: An elite athlete spends more energy than a sedentary person who does.
- Pregnancy: It is the proportion of food will have to adapt to the nutritional needs of mother and fetus.
In case of illness, nutritional requirements would be tailored to each case. You must act very carefully, because an imbalance of diet in these circumstances it may worsen the process.
3. Benefits
During the history of humanity, in relation to food and health, there have been many myths and legends, have curative properties, even magical, to certain foods.
These beliefs are with us even today, maintaining the idea that certain foods have miraculous health properties and some are extremely harmful to itself, without any scientific basis.
Current research indicates that fiber, virgin olive oil, omega 3 fatty acids or vitamins are really healthy and is very advisable to introduce them into our diet, because they help in preventing many diseases.
Those affecting the heart (heart attack), blood vessels (arteriosclerosis) to maintain normal cholesterol levels, the digestive system (colon cancer) and bones (osteoporosis), among others, are some of these diseases.