Paragraph on awareness about food and nutrition
Answers
Answer:
Nutritional awareness is also related to knowledge of the interrelationships between nutritional matters and human life, which may have an effect on a person's life. In the present study, nutritional awareness entails being cognizant of the kind of foods an individual eats and the reasons for eating such foods.
Explanation:
In recent years, the scope of public health practice has continued to expand given the call to action to promote sustainable health and nutrition. Therefore, eating practices and the nutritive value of consumed foods are becoming increasingly important areas of research for nutritional counseling professionals across the globe.[1] Adequate and proper nutrition is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle.[1,2] Therefore, it is essential to promote an awareness of the nutrients contained in foods in relation to their roles in body maintenance, growth, reproduction, health, and disease prevention in humans. Appropriate nutrition is important for a variety of reasons, including optimal cardiovascular function, muscle strength, respiratory ventilation, protection from infection, wound healing, and psychological well-being.[3] Additionally, it helps to prevent nutrition-related diseases through a diet containing the right amount of food constituents, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water, required for body building and defense, energy supply, and regulatory functions.
The nutritional intake of individuals in developing countries such as Nigeria appears to be undergoing a transition from high-fiber, calorie-sparse, low-protein diets to low-fiber, calorie-dense, and high-protein diets.[1,4] This changing pattern, particularly with respect to carbohydrate intake, appears to be a contributory factor to the increasing prevalence of obesity, which is a major risk factor for many noncommunicable nutrition-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and nutrition-induced cancer.[5] The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that nutrition-related diseases account for about 60% of all deaths, and 43% of the global burden of disease,[6] and that by 2020, the impact of nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases is expected to rise to 73% of all deaths and 60% of the global burden of disease.[7] According to the WHO, the conditions that promote unhealthy eating practices among individuals include a lack of adequate health and nutritional knowledge, and the acquisition of misinformation about health and nutrition matters.[8] In addition, when foods are not consumed in quantities commensurate with individuals’ body needs, malnutrition or over-nutrition may set in.[1] Thus, given the roles played by nutrients in promoting health and optimal functioning in humans, counseling and education about diet and nutrition need to be made a priority by all relevant professionals, including nutritional counselors, home economists, and dieticians.