Food Pyramid Essay

841 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: importance of nutrition to human life

Food pyramids
Nutrition is one of the most important factors that influence health. By selecting proper nutrition and properly structured menu you enable your body to get all the necessary nutrients needed for normal functioning. In order to facilitate the selection of food or aid in the selection of food to ensure good health, the so-called food pyramids are formed.
There are 4 types of food pyramid:
1. Mediterranean
2. Vegetarian
3. Asian
4. South American
Mediterranean pyramid is considered the healthiest diet choice and is based on the eating habits which were represented with the Greeks and the Italians in the 20th century.
Mediterranean pyramid:
Meals should be based on plant foods: fruits, vegetables, various nuts, seeds, cereals and …show more content…

However, if you do not enter meat, you will not enter the essential amino acids thereby risking having a lack of protein. People who practice a vegetarian diet often have a lack of calcium, iron, iodine and certain vitamins, which can cause a variety of disorders in the body. Meat is necessary as only it contains the essential amino acids or amino acids that our body cannot create and must be taken with food. These amino acids are essential for normal functioning of the body. Also, meat is rich in iron, or our body much better uses iron from meat than from plant choices of iron (e.g. lettuce). Therefore, this diet is not recommended.
There are several groups of vegetarians:
1. Vegans. The strictest type of vegetarian diet. Vegans eat only foods of plant origin. This type of diet should not be used with young children and the elderly. People who practice this diet often have a lack of B vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, iron and other minerals. In order to reduce iron deficiency in these people, it is recommended to often take lettuce with lemon juice. Lemon juice contains a lot of vitamin C, which enhances the better use of iron from lettuce in your body.
2. Semi-vegetarians. Semi-vegetarians eat meat but just fish and poultry, while not eating red meat. This diet is recommendable and has similar principles as the Mediterranean type of

Show More
Related

  • Diet, Pescetarianism, And The Mediterranean Diet

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    Veganism is a diet that consists of eating NO animal products. This includes any animal meat, eggs, dairy products, and honey. They are also known to boycott any company associated with animal cruelty and/or animal testing. Veganism is also known as a wholefood, plant based diet. As well as saving the animals, veganism is also a way to tremendously decrease the waste of fresh water and the levels of pollution in our environment. Because of these restrictions, they eat only vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and seeds, and legumes. The main concern of skeptics, is whether or not this diet has a convincing source of protein. People who follow this diet rave about its benefits, not only in health, but in emotional wellbeing. They say that eating a clean diet like this one, keeps you energized and feeling amazing. Also, studies have shown that people on this diet have significantly lowered their risk for heart attacks, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, strokes, and cancer. While some people might think that this diet is extreme, there’s a diet that’s even more

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Vegetarian Diet

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, by carefully planning and knowing which plant foods to choose, vegetarians can avoid these disadvantages. Leafy greens and almonds, for example, are high in calcium, and flaxseed and chia seeds provide omega-3s. Eating plant-based iron with a source of vitamin C will improve absorption, such as a spinach salad with sliced strawberries or orange sections. Most plant-based proteins – with the exception of soy and quinoa – are incomplete, which means they don’t provide all the amino acids necessary to build muscle and tissue, like animal foods do. To avoid a protein deficiency, vegetarians need to combine proteins throughout the day. For example, eating beans with brown rice or hummus with whole-wheat pita bread will supply the needed amino acids. (Paula

    Read More

  • A Vegetarian Diet Promotes Good Heart Health

    1288 Words  | 3 Pages

    In brief, a vegetarian diet is one that avoids all animal flesh. The vegetarian diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and other protein-rich foods. A vegetarian diet is also one laden with grains. There are four different categories of vegetarianism. These include the vegan, the lacto-vegetarian, the ovo-vegetarian and the lacto-ovo vegetarian. Vegans exclude all animal flesh, eggs, or dairy products including foods that contain these products. The vegan diet includes all beans, legumes, vegetables and fruits, grains and the infinite number of foods made by combining them. Many vegans do not eat processed foods using animal products, such as refined white sugar. A lacto-vegetarian diet allows dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and butter while excluding animal flesh and eggs. In the ovo-vegetarian diet, eggs are included but not dairy products. The last type of vegetarian is a lacto-ovo vegetarian. The lacto-ovo vegetarian diet includes both eggs and dairy products. Finally, because vegetarian diets exclude animal flesh and restrict eggs and dairy, it can be difficult to ensu...

    Read More

  • Vegetarianism: The Characteristics And Types Of Vegetarians

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    Appropriately planned vegetarian diets can be essential to any one, in any stage of their life. Vegetarian diets are associated with lower risks of cancer, death from ischemic heart disease or any cardiovascular disease. Also lower body mass index (BMI), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, low blood pressure and lower rates of hypertension than those of which are non-vegetarians.

    Read More

  • The Vegetarian Diet: The Vegetarian Diet

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    Starting a vegetarian diet requires planning, because there are many nutrients that cannot be received from plants. The major nutrient received from meat is protein. Protein is necessary to rebuild cells and to have strong bones and muscles. Protein is important for a high-energy level and overall good health (Becoming a Vegetarian 2014).Protein, iron, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and zinc are all vitamins minerals that a vegetarian must find alternative sources of because they are mainly obtained through eating meat (Becoming a Vegetarian 2014).Many vegetarians get these through vitamin supplements. If a person does not get enough iron, they can develop anemia. It is important for a vegetarian to get proper

    Read More

  • The Benefits Of Being A Vegetarian Diet?

    1164 Words  | 3 Pages

    The problem is that these individuals may suffer from anemia due to a lack of iron in the body. However, with education on the importance iron, women and men can seek out some non meat based sources of iron one of them being spinach. This provides them with the iron that they lose from their bodies just to keep them healthy (Benefits of being a vegetarian, 2010). At the same time, being vegetarian is important in maintaining the level of healthy blood; this can be done by consuming more Calcium. Calcium is also another nutrient that is necessary for to the body in terms of growth. Calcium is obtained from vegetarian diets through foods such as leafy green vegetables, seeds, and nuts. Eating a vegetarian diet also results in a balanced body pH for the functioning of the body tissues, giving people more reasons for consuming a vegetarian based diet (Writers,

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Animals

    1336 Words  | 3 Pages

    Simply put, those who practice living as a vegetarian abstain from red (and white meat, like pork), fish, shellfish, and all other kinds of animal flesh. They do not partake in carnivorous or even omnivorous pastimes, like eating hot dogs or freshly grilled hamburgers and steaks. Their diet consists of almost completely fruits, vegetables, nuts (and seeds), berries, and very rarely animal byproducts, such as eggs and the many forms in which dairy comes. Since these “true” vegetarians have sworn themselves of the meat of other living creatures, they must find other sources of protein. This mainly comes from many different types of nuts (that contain many other vitamins, minerals, and fatty oils), and a surprising array of vegetables, like avocados or

    Read More

  • Vegetarianism: The Five Types Of Vegetarianism

    773 Words  | 2 Pages

    Vegetarianism is becoming more widespread, particularly because of the belief people have that meat can potentially harm the body. The term ‘vegetarianism’ is used to describe people who avoid eating eat or seafood and possibly dairy foods or eggs. According to Nutrition Australia, the term is not well defined and it includes “people with a wide range of attitudes and eating behaviours with respect to foods of animal region” (para. 3). There are a broad range of vegetarians based on how much food is derived of plant origin, from animals and other sources. Thus, there are five types of vegetarians; Semi vegetarian diet excludes red meat and consumes poultry with/or fish, eggs and dairy food. Lacto vegetarian diet avoid meat, poultry, fish and consumes dairy foods. Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet excludes meat,

    Read More

  • The Mediterranean Diet

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Mediterranean diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits, legumes and grains. It also contains small amount of chicken and fish. Most fat comes from unsaturated olive oil and nuts. There are few sweet and meat. In combination with moderate exercise and not smoking, the Mediterranean Diet offers a scientifically researched, balanced, and health-promoting lifestyle choice. (HealthFitnessRevolution, 2013). The Mediterranean Diet is a balanced diet full of a variety of foods and can be followed easily. Key characteristics of the Mediterranean diet include one to two daily glasses of red wine for men and one glass for women. This difference in quantity of wine is due to the body mass, which is generally superior for men than for women. The characteristics include also many fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, beans and whole grains eaten daily; weekly consumption of meat, poultry, eggs and olive oil and monthly consumptio...

    Read More

  • Nutrition and Food Intake

    1293 Words  | 3 Pages

    The food pyramids are basically an outline of what you should eat during the day that is healthy. Knowing what you eat is important because nutrition requires a well-balanced diet containing nutrients and vitamins and if you don?t eat healthy then you can acquire diseases and dietary disorders. The new food pyramid tells you that you should include whole grains and plant oils in most meals because if you include plant oils and whole grains in most meals it reduces the rate of heart diseases & whole grains contain Vitamin B and Vitamin B is essential for growth, the functioning of the stomach and intestines, and they are also essential for the nervous system. Vegetables should be eaten abundantly because vegetables contain the mineral magnesium which relaxes your nerves and muscles, builds and strengthens bones, and keeps you blood circulating at a constant pace. You s...

    Read More

  • The Mediterranean Diet

    1049 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Mediterranean Diet is rich in vegetables, fruit, legumes such as peas and beans and also rich in grains. It also contains moderate amounts of chicken and fish. There is little red meat. Most fat is unsaturated and comes from olive oil and nuts. Since a diet is what you eat and what you drink having a small amount of red wine has been shown to increase the health benefits. In combination with moderate exercise and not smoking, the Mediterranean Diet offers a scientifically researched, balanced, and health-promoting lifestyle choice. (HealthFitnessRevolution, 2013)

    Read More

  • Vegetarianism: Is it the Right Choice?

    1450 Words  | 3 Pages

    Critics of vegetarianism do not believe that going on a plant based diet is the healthier choice. According to Nancy Rodriguez , people need to have a balanced diet consisting of the basic food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy. Vegetarians are getting the important nutrients from vegetables, fruits, grains, and dairy but are missing important vitamins that they would normally get from proteins, such as, vitamin D, vitamin B12, zinc, iron, and calcium. These nutrients are available in other foods but vegetarians are not able to get it in large amounts as they would be in meat. This insufficient amount of nutrients could create health problems in the future, for example, not having enough vitamin D could lead to bad bone structure. It is true that becoming a vegetarian could lead to some nutritional problems in the body however; there are many more positive aspects in becoming a vegetarian than negatives.

    Read More

  • Vegan Diets: Healthy or Harmful?

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ing properly from all the vegan friendly food groups to ensure there are no deficiencies in protein, vitamin B or D, calcium and iron. As long as the vegan diet includes all of these necessary items than it is a completely healthy diet and way of life, the options for the vegetarian eater have become much more plentiful over the last 10 or so years and therefore makes it much easier to enjoy this type of lifestyle healthfully.

    Read More

  • Vegetarian Diet Argumentative Essay

    1935 Words  | 4 Pages

    Numerous people believe that a vegetarian diet is unhealthy for the reason that one is not consuming enough protein since there is a decrease in the consumption of meat. However, meat is not the only source of protein. Nuts and grains contain great amounts of protein, and by eating these in the place of meat, one not only gets protein, but avoids the harmful carbohydrates and fats that are in animal meats. Consuming supplements can also help gain nutrients if the diet is not providing enough. There are countless amounts of nutritional supplements that one can purchase, including fish oil and omega 3s. These can be fairly cheap if purchased at the right place, and easily give bodies the nutrients they crave to function.

    Read More

  • The Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    The vegetarian diet is one that provides the body with many essential nutrients. These nutrients include fiber, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. All of these nutrients aid in providing the body with the minerals that can help to prevent health diseases. As can be seen with the vegetarian diet there are many health benefits that can prevent, or be treatment for, health diseases. According to the American Dietetic Association the vegetarian diet is healthy and recommended for obtaining the nutrients needed for better health. A vegetarian diet is low in cholesterol and fatty acids and these are the factors that contribute to many health diseases. The nutrients that the vegetarian diet contains are beneficial and reduce the chances of becoming obese, getting heart disease, and being diagnosed with cancer.

    Read More

More about Food Pyramid Essay

Open Document