Food is one of the most important aspects of human life; not only does its deliciousness allow for enjoyment and pleasure, but it also provides our bodies with the nourishment and sustenance that we need to lead a healthy lifestyle. While nourishment is so important to well-being, so many people are forced to go hungry on a daily basis. The most vulnerable members of society are more prone to hunger than anyone else, and that has led a number of charities to establish widow and orphan food parcel appeals. This is to ensure that those most in need receive at least some nourishment.
Food provides us with the vital nutrients we need to function, including protein, minerals, and vitamins. Therefore, in the absence of nourishment, we find ourselves unable to fight chronic diseases. To that end, detailed below is just why proper nourishment is so important for health.
The Definition of Nourish
The Cambridge Dictionary defines nourish as “to provide people or living things with food that helps keep them healthy and promotes growth.” Similarly, the Collins Dictionary defines nourish as “providing people with food that is essential for life, growth, and good health.” These definitions display just how crucial food is in the human diet to disease prevention, health, development, and growth. After all, food is responsible for many of our basic bodily functions, including the provision of energy, keeping warm, digesting food, and even breathing.
Meanwhile, our bodies rely on food to grow and repair our tissues, bones, and muscles. From this, proper immune function is assured. What’s more, these nutrients include macronutrients, which deliver energy to the body, and micronutrients, which our bodies require for proper function. Macronutrients include fat, protein, and carbohydrates, while micronutrients include iron, calcium, vitamins, water, zinc, and magnesium.
The Benefits of Proper Nourishment
There are multiple benefits that come from proper nourishment. For instance, a nourishing diet, like the DASH diet or Mediterranean diet, is linked to better cognitive function, which reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. On the other side of the spectrum, consistently consuming ultra-processed foods puts someone at greater risk of developing certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This is on top of exacerbating colitis, Chron’s, and other inflammatory bowel syndromes.
A lack of nutrients over a prolonged period of time results in the development of nutrient deficiencies, which can lead to a multitude of health complications. For instance, a calcium deficiency can result in reduced bone strength and osteoporosis. At the same time, too much of a specific nutrient can also be detrimental. For example, over-supplementation with calcium can result in nausea, constipation, kidney problems, heart arrhythmias, and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Some of the basic benefits of nourishment include the following:
- Healthy weight management
- Normal digestive system function
- Longer lifespan
- Reduced risk of developing certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease
- Strength of bones and muscles
- Healthy eyes, teeth, and skin
- Proper immune function
How to Nourish Your Body
Eating foods from the five food groups should allow you to get all the nutrients required for your body. The five food groups include fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Minimally processed foods are the best option, as this allows you to reduce the number of saturated fats you’re consuming, as well as sodium, added sugars, and trans fats. This isn’t to say that you’re not allowed any processed food whatsoever, but it should be something that you consume on occasion rather than on a regular basis. All in all, the importance of nourishment can’t be underestimated.