Different Types of Nutrition: What Are They?
- Author :
- TATA AIG Team
- ●
- Published on :
- 09/03/2022
The phrasing "you're what you eat" dates back to the 18th century, but since then, it has taken decades of research to determine exactly what to eat to be as healthy as possible. Food is like fuel for the body. If people don't use high-quality fuel, they can never expect high functioning. Eating healthy helps people live longer by eliminating chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, or heart disease and boosts energy and mood, amplifying the overall quality of life.
Most of the time, people find it easy to turn to fast food since it's convenient, isn't it? However, the body needs a complex mix of nutrients to look and feel its best. Not only does your body need protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, fibres, and vitamins, but it also needs hydration. Even the most careful eater could struggle to meet every nutrient goal each day.
Like the nutrients or nutrition food items, it’s also important to have an adequate health insurance policy. Buying a robust health insurance policy from leading insurance companies like Tata AIG can help people save their bank accounts from getting dry in the event of a medical emergency.
Therefore, it is essential to know the different types of nutrients and their role in a healthy lifestyle. So let's start the process by first understanding what nutrition is and its types.
Nutrition: Definition
Nutrition is basically the psychological procedure of extracting energy from food sources for metabolic and growth activities. To put it simply, it is anything that gives nourishment important for the growth and maintenance of life. This includes macronutrients and micronutrients like amino acids and fatty acids.
Macronutrients are consumed in large amounts and include the main building blocks of people's diet, carbohydrates, and proteins, fuel the body. Minerals and vitamins are micronutrients, and small doses of them go a long way, helping fight disease, regulate and maintain body functions like the nervous system, blood pressure, metabolism, etc.
Many nutrients are good for the body, but some that people need to be particularly mindful to include in their diet. So, what are the different types of nutrients that people need?
Types of Nutrition That Individuals Need
Here's a list of the 7 major nutrients important to human well-being. It is important to realise that some types of nutrition in humans are self-produced through the breakdown of food:
Water: It's really important to stay hydrated. Water is essential for survival, especially since it makes up 60% of the adult human body. A few days without drinking water can lead to serious illness. In addition, the body depends on water. It is vital for waste disposal and temperature regulation and an important component of every cell. To stay hydrated, drink water at least 2 litres a day and eat foods rich in water content, especially vegetables and fruits. Keep drinks like sodas and coffee at bay since it dehydrates the body.
Carbohydrates: Carbs and carbohydrates often get a bad rap, with zero-carb diets evolving today. Carbohydrates are important for proper bodily function. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, the main fuel for the human brain and body. It also ensures that the human body doesn't break down proteins for energy, averting loss of muscle mass.
Protein: Protein is vital for good health. It is important for building muscle to create new hormones and enzymes. They are made up of small building blocks known as amino acids. They are basically cell builders, which rotate faster and regenerate more slowly as people age. Ensuring these important building blocks are present contributes to optimal ageing at a time in people's lives when supporting their nutritional intake and making up for any deficiencies becomes more important.
Fat: Another often-attacked nutrient, dietary fat, has gotten a bad rap for its association with the human body. There are a variety of diets that condemn all fat, but in reality, it is much more nuanced. Fat is an important nutrient that promotes the absorption of vitamins and helps shield organs. Certain types of fat are unquestionably bad, like trans fat, found in baked and processed foods, that increase the risk of heart disease and must be eaten very rarely. On the other hand, unsaturated fats found in natural sources protect the heart and help prevent heart-related disease.
Vitamins: Vitamins are organic compounds and an important micronutrient that the human body requires in small amounts. Vitamin A is crucial for eye and skin health, Vitamin C for muscle and bone structure, immune system support, and Vitamin D for cardiovascular and nervous health and bone health. No food provides all of the essential vitamins. Therefore, a varied and healthy diet is required. If the diet is restrictive, there is nothing wrong with taking a supplement that includes a multivitamin to fill in the gaps. However, try to get your vitamins naturally whenever possible. Unluckily, this is not possible for most people, so make sure to get them some other way.
Minerals: Minerals are another important micronutrient, helping maintain a healthy heart rate and building strong bones. Each important mineral serves a different role. There are seven essential minerals: sodium, potassium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium.
Fibres: Fibre is a carbohydrate or polysaccharide that aids in digestion. Nevertheless, the human body does not derive any calories or nutrients from the fibre. However, it does help in removing the toxins from the digestive system. In addition, it regulates bowel movements and clears the risk of cancer from the human body.
Some of the Healthy Sources of Nutrients
Understanding the meaning of nutrition or its types won't help people maintain a healthy lifestyle. In lieu, people must take the initiative to sketch out a meal plan that combines the benefits of the nutrients discussed above:
- Water
- Carbohydrates: Bread, rice, whole grain, etc.
- Protein: Fish, chicken, egg, pulses, milk, etc.
- Fat: Nuts, unsaturated fats, etc.
- Vitamins: Eggs, green leafy vegetables, eggs, milk, nuts, etc.
- Minerals: Egg yolk, spinach, fortified cereals, nuts and seeds, etc.
- Fibres: Sprouts, fruits, millets, etc.
Conclusion
Good health lies in proper nutrition, combined with daily exercise and adequate rest. A properly balanced diet helps people fuel their daily activities and promotes lifelong well-being.
Just like keeping that body healthy and active, it's also necessary to invest in health insurance from reputable companies like Tata AIG since it'll help protect people from any event of a health emergency, cutting down the overall medical costs. People can also check their policy premium costs by going through their online health insurance premium calculator to get the best rates.
Disclaimer / TnC
Your policy is subjected to terms and conditions & inclusions and exclusions mentioned in your policy wording. Please go through the documents carefully.