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Premature Infancy
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Nutrition and You

Nutrition is the relationship of foods to the health of the human body . Proper nutrition means that you are receiving enough foods

and supplements for the body to function at optimal capacity. It is important to remember that no single nutrient or activity can maintain

optimal health and well being, although it has been proven that some nutrients are more important than others. All of the nutrients are

necessary in different amounts along with exercise to maintain proper health.

There are six main types of nutrients used to maintain body health. They are: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and

water . They all must be in balance for the body to function properly. There are also five major food groups. The groups are: fats and

oils, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, grains, and meats.

Exercise is also an important part of nutrition. Exercise helps tone and maintain muscle tissue and ensure that the body’s organs stay

in good condition. Healthy eating without exercise will not result in good nutrition and a healthy body - neither will exercise without

nutrition. The most important thing about exercise is that it be practiced regularly and that it be practiced in accompaniment with a

healthy diet. It is also desirable to practice more that one sport as different sports exercise different areas of the body.

Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the sources of energy for the body. The contained energy is expressed in calories. There are 9

calories per gram in fat and there are about 4 calories per gram in proteins and carbohydrates .

Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body. This energy is mostly used for muscle movement and digestion of food. Some

sources of carbohydrates are : grains, fruits, vegetables, and anything else that grows out of the ground. The energy in carbohydrates is

almost instantly digested. This results in a quick rise in blood sugar which is soon followed by a drop in blood sugar which is

interpreted by the body as a craving for more sugars. This sugar low may also result in fatigue, dizziness, nervousness, and headache.

However, not all carbohydrates do this. Most fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains are digested more slowly.

Fats, which are lipids, are the source of energy that is the most concentrated. Fats produce more that twice the amount of energy that is

in carbohydrates or proteins. Besides having a high concentration of energy, fat acts as a carrier for the fat soluble vitamins, A, D, E,

and K. Also, by helping in the absorption of vitamin D, fats help make calcium available to various body tissues, in particular, the bones

and teeth. Another function of fat is to convert carotene to vitamin A. Fat also helps keep organs in place by surrounding them in a

layer of fat. Fat also surrounds the body in a layer that preserves body temperature and keeps us warm. One other function of fat is to

slow the production of hydrochloric acid thereby slowing down digestion and making food last longer. Some sources of fats are meats

and nuts as well as just plain oils and fats.

Proteins, besides water, are the most plentiful substance in the body. Protein is also one of the most important element for the health of

the body. Protein is the major source of building material in the body and is important in the development and growth of all body

tissues. Protein is also needed for the formation of all hormones. It also helps regulate the body’s water balance. When proteins are

digested they are broken down into simpler sections called amino acids. However, not all proteins will contain all the necessary amino

acids. Most meat and dairy products contain all necessary amino acids in their proteins. Proteins are available from both plants and

animals. However, Animal proteins are more complete and thus desirable.

Knowledge of the nutrients and their function is essential to understanding the importance of good nutrition. As mentioned above, there

are six nutrients.

All vitamins are organic food substances that are found only in living things, plants and animals . It is believed that there are about

twenty substances that are active as vitamins in human nutrition . Every vitamin is essential to the proper growth and development of the

body. With a few exceptions, the body cannot make vitamins and must be supplied with them. Vitamins contain no energy but are

important as enzymes which help speed up nearly all metabolic functions. Also, vitamins are not building components of body tissues,

but aid in the construction of these tissues. It is impossible to reliably determine the vitamin requirements of an individual because of

differences in age, sex, body size, genetic makeup, and activity. A good source of a recommendation...