Online Class Notes (Jesse)

2011:

Eat to be healthy / You are what you eat

In recent years WHO have been researching the way in which various factors contribute to human health, suggesting that a healthy diet ranks second overall at 13%, with genetic factors and quality of available medical services accounting for 15% and 8% respectively.

However, despite the improved standards of living in today’s society, many people still struggle to maintain a healthy diet due to a lack of knowledge surrounding balanced nutritional intake, portion control, and regularity.

A balanced diet consists of two sub-groups: staple and non-staple foods, with the former being the main source of energy for the body, while the latter, including meats, vegetables, seafood, eggs and beans, are a key source of amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is important the a healthy diet is considered to include a variety of both of these food groups in order to meet the body‘s needs. Except for this, adapting our diets according to seasonal change, by improving the color, smell, and taste of dishes, is useful in improving appetite levels during particular seasons when appetites are generally low. Moreover, it is suggested to eat moderately and regularly. Having too much or too little food does harm to our health and eating on time benefits digestion. Finally, provide different diet for different occupations. A diet of meat, milk, apples and beans are rich in protein, sugar, calcium, iron, zinc and vitamins and are ideal for any balanced diet, but for people regularly carrying out duties that require a high level of mental concentration, such as teachers and students, the substance lecithin is necessary as it is depleted as a result of this kind of work. Lecithin is commonly found in eggs and fish so it is suggested to have 1 or 2 eggs daily, and a serving of marine fish once a week.

In a word, it is important to keep a balanced diet for health.