The Effect of Food on Humans
''You are what you eat.''[1] The food we consume determines our
physical and psychological health. The muscles in the body, and the
blood flowing through the veins, are all supplied by the food that we
consume. These foods also have an effect on the way the brain
functions, and an effect on the body's performance. People might say
they are hungry and genuinely believe it when in fact they are feeling
sad. This is due to the lack of neuro- chemicals in the brain which
carry messages and control nerve impulses. When the right types of
food are eaten, the neuro- chemicals contained in the foods enhances
mental capabilities such as defusing stress. The serotonin, dopamine
and endorphin levels in the brain change. Dopamine is related with
alertness, used for fast reflexes, ''mental energy''[2] and assists
with problem solving. Serotonin helps to improve the mood and is a
regulating hormone. It is important that a well balanced diet is
consumed, eating an appropriate amount from each food group. Today's
diet has drifted a long way off the ideal intake and balance of
nutrients. Research will focus on a wide variety of diet related
issues and its effect on the bodily systems.
A healthy balanced diet should consist of:
* 60% CARBOHYDRATES- an important constituent of almost all foods
and an excellent source of energy food. If consumed before and
after a workout, the workout will be more effective. According to
The balance of good health sheet, a person should consume 6-14
measures of carbohydrates per day.
Sources include: bread, beans, pasta, rice, dried fruit etc.
* 25%FATS- Fu...
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... of importance placed on individuals these days regarding
nutrition especially to children in school. A healthy diet together
with physical activity will keep you free from illnesses. It is not
necessary to become a vegetarian or a health nut, but to cut back on
unhealthy habits and eat properly is necessary to avoid illnesses and
diseases.
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[1] Optimum nutrition bible, page 100
[2] positive health, page 39, issue 101
[3] The optimum nutrition bible, page 30
[4] The balance of good health sheet, 2004
[5] www.bbc.co.uk/health,2003
[6] www.bnf.co.uk/nutrients, 2004
[7] Fitpro magazine, issue 12 pg18, 2004
[8] you are what you eat. Gillian mckeith
[9] Fit Pro magazine(2001) issue 12 page 18
[10] www.factmonster.com
In order to increase the level of serotonin, you should eat Tryptophan rich foods like tuna, salmon, dairy products, nuts and etc. At second step, you should get outside of the sunlight and absorb Vitamin D. Sun is considered to be best source for Vitamin D. Serotonin production is mainly based on availability of vitamin. It is a component of protein and which human will eat normal diet consume in significant amounts. One will increased with his weight by eating more carbohydrates. This serotonin will be helpful to promote happiness, relaxation and sleep. It is sometimes known as happy neurotransmitter. If there are any deficiencies in molecule, it will lead to depression. Individuals who are feeling difficult to sleep cannot try glass of warm milk before bed. There is some speculation that the popular thanks giving day coma where people will feel tired after a big meal. It is a kind of hormone which helps people to feel relaxed and contented. Similar to many hormones and brain chemicals, serotonin is having role in optimizing the concentrations. It is formed by the acid named tryptophan. It will work to make one to feel sleepy. Serotonin inside our body helps in increasing the ability of being relaxed, happy, confident and calm. It can regulate the memory and temperature. Apart from internal health, it will also help in the external health like with skin. It can be said as boon to the skin. Another name feel
Whitney, E., DeBruyne, L. K., Pinna, K., & Rolfes, S. R. (2007). Nutrition through the Life Span: Childhood and Adolescence . Nutrition for health and health care (3rd ed., pp. 301-329). Belmount: Thomson/Wadsworth.
In the brainstem, the most primitive part of the brain, lie clusters of serotonin neurons. The nerve fiber terminals of the serotonergic neurons extend all throughout the central nervous system from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord. This neurotransmitter is responsible for controlling fundamental physiological aspects of the body. In the central nervous system (CNS), serotonin has widespread and often profound implications, including a role in sleep, appetite, memory, learning, temperature regulation, mood, sexual behavior, cardiovascular function, muscle contraction, and endocrine regulation. Not only does this bioamine control physiological aspects of the body, but it also has an involvement in behaviors like eating, sleeping and aggression. Serotonin has been noted to produce an inhibitory effect on the nervous system that calms, soothes and generates feelings of general contentment and satiation.
Nutritional anthropology applies the anthropological approach to nutritional disciplines by studying and understanding how the interactions of social and biological factors affect the nutritional status of individuals and populations. Dettwlyer conducted a medical anthropological research assessing the nutritional status of individuals living in a population in Mali, Africa. She defined it as to be a biocultural approach because the research did not only pertain to the biological system of the people but cultural dogmas, infant feeding practices, socio-economic status, political-ecological factors also contributed as much. Death rates and child malnutrition rates are very high in Mali, it being one of the poorest countries of the world. Therefore, Dettwlyer being a nutritional anthropologist extends her study to the children of Mali who are malnutritioned as a result of their birth in poor families; because their mothers have a low status in their prosperous extended family households; ethno-cultural tenets, etc.
...brain and malnutrition. Therefore, one’s diet is not only crucial for the physical well being but also their mental.
Sorte, J., Daeschel, I., Amador, C. (2011). Nutrition, Health, and Safety for Young Children. (Ashford University ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Since 1916, the United States Department of Agriculture (the government agency responsible for all U.S. policy regarding agriculture, food, and farming) has revised their recommendations several times. Unfortunately, money talks and the USDA’s recommendations are based on outdated science and are influenced by people with business interest. Even so, its recommendations are considered almost “holy” by physicians, nutritionists, and dieters, but in reality, they are the root cause of the problem. A single visit to our local public school cafeteria and it will become clear that they do not have the best interests of the children at heart. What they are feeding our innocent children is preposterous. Doctors, the people we trust and expect to be “the experts”, do not know much about the subject of nutrition. A vast majority of medical schools in the U.S. require just 25-30 hours or less of nutrition training, and some do not require at all. So doctors must rely on the ...
The world of foods and nutrition has changed dramatically in recent years. It used to be eggs, red meat and whole milk, but now many doctors recommend leafy green vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains. The old way has gotten many people into trouble. Heart disease, Cancer, and other problems have become an epidemic. That’s why nutrition is so important. Many children are struggling with weight and many have artery damage.
Many argue the importance of food and its nutritional value. Food Science has been a heavily debated topic for years. Today, this topic sparks even more controversy. In Michael Pollan’s book In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, Pollan shares several aspects of insight on different topics about health and how it should be approached. Pollan breaks down his overall beliefs and explanations from food nutrients to health risk factors. This book has allowed many readers and scientists to approach eating and health from different perspectives.
There are a lot of low quality foods around us with an endless supply of junk and fast foods. Most of these foods are usually combined with insufficient time to exercise away all the extra calories which is major cause of obesity. Nevertheless, there is a problem of under-eating especially for those in the ancestral health community. It is even saddening that many people are still finding it hard to believe that under-eating leads to mysterious symptoms as a result of insufficient macronutrients and calories. On the other hand, it is surprising that people who are used to under-eat without losing weight tend to shed the extra pounds after increasing their food intake. Under-eating is linked with various health problems and makes it hard for
Nutrition is a basic necessity of life. Without a proper and well-balanced diet, it is difficult for any being, regardless of species, to survive. Unlike that of primates such as the great apes, the human diet is more full of calories and nutrients. Humans have a great understanding of what types of food are necessary to maintain good health. It is difficult to tell when the eating habits of Homo sapiens split apart from the eating habits of these other primates. Yet, one fact is certain. As human evolution continues to progress, the human diet also continues to evolve.
Nutrients are substances that are required for our body in order to grow and become healthy. The nutrients in our food are classified as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fibers. Proteins are found in food like cereals, bread, milk, and cheese, which provide growth and repair parts of our body. Fats can be found in margarine, butter, cheese, and snack foods. They act as a layer to keep out the cold and to protect us against injuries, but consuming too much isn’t healthy for the body. Carbohydrates can be found in breads, rice, and pasta, and is one of the sources that provide us with energy. During the five days of food log, the worst nutritionally food I consumed was 2 slices of cheese pizza. The pizza contains the most amounts of fat, carbohydrate, sodium, cholesterol, calcium, and iron. Fat in pizza is saturated, meaning it can raise the level of cholesterol in the blood which can increase the chance of having heart diseases. It’s also a primary risk factor of cardiovascular diseases, which is found to be that half of all men and a third of women will get at a time in their life. On the other hand, the best food nutritionally was Macaroni and tomato sauce. It contains macaroni, shrimps, corn, fres tomato, tomato sauce, mushrooms, and fish. This meal is complete, meaning it has all the nutrients my body requires in a meal, which is protein from fish and shrimps, fats from the oil being used, carbohydrates form the macaroni, and vitamins, minerals, and fibers from tomatoes and corns. Eating tomatoes, even though it’s only a part of the meal, is a healthy choice because it wards of cancer, especially lung and stomach cancer. Furthermore, tomatoes reduce the risk of heart diseases because they contain niacin, f...
The general topic to be discussed in this research plan is nutrition, peoples eating habits and what impacts it has on them. The diet a person has can either have a positive or negative impact on the body; this research will look into how particular diets affect academic performance. Past research on the topic suggest that a well-nourished diet has positive impacts on academic performance. The literature review will give detailed information on past findings, research methods and conclusions on the topic. Furthermore, it will include a discussion on why people still eat unhealthy food when they know it is bad for them. At the completion of the literature review, the aim of the research will be stated, dependent and independent variables will be identified and finally the concepts of the plan will be defined.
In the book, In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan explores the relationship between nutrition and the Western diet, claiming that the answer to healthy eating is simply to “eat food”.
Proper nutrition is one of the most essential elements to being healthy and living a long life. People deal with food every day, and food has been a part of life since the beginning of civilization. What we eat becomes our diet, and our diet plays a major role in deciding how healthy we are and how well our body functions. Without proper diet, our body cannot carry out the functions it needs to perform. Most people have some common knowledge on what is good and what is bad for the human body to consume. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains are some common items people think of when they think of healthy foods. However, it is not enough just to know what foods are good for your body, it is also important to understand why certain foods are good for you and what they do to help the body function.