Nutrition and Health

In order to live a healthy life we need all kinds of nutrients in correct proportion. Plants need sunlight, water, soil and manure for their growth. Like that human beings need nutrients of different kinds for their optimum growth and development and maintenance of health.

The word ' nutrition' comes from the word ' nourish' and it includes all the ways in which the foodstuffs we eat are absorbed by the body for the growth and development, energy and good health.

Nutrition and health

When a person does not eat the right nutrients in right quantity he or she is malnourished and we call this condition as malnutrition.

Malnutrition is very common among children in India. He or she is under-weight because of not having enough kind of food needed for their growth. In many parts of India 40% of children is under-weight for their ages.

When an under-weight child gets measles or diarrhea or some other infection, the malnutrition gets worsened and he may die. A well-nourished child is less likely to become sick and if at all he is infected, he is able to overcome the disease condition.

Malnutrition also affects the intelligence of a child. His or her trouble may start even before birth if his mother does not have the right foods when she is pregnant. The malnourished child is slow in learning and doing.

Adult people who are malnourished are not able to work optimum. Production and development of the country are slowed down because of malnutrition. Every one needs enough right kinds of food.

Here is comparison of the effects on the people of good nutrition and malnutrition.

Good nutrition

1.       Correct weight for height and age.

2.       Strong muscles

3.       Limbs straight

4.       Smooth, clear skin and mucous membranes.

5.       Healthy, bright eyes,clear sight.

6.       Hearing well.

7.       Breathing unobstructed.

8.       Teeth well formed and free from dental caries

9.       Tonsils are normal and free from infection

10.     Erect posture in sitting, standing and walking.

11.     Nerves steady, expression calm and cheerful, quick to learn.

12.     They are energetic

13.         Good resistance to infections.

          Malnutrition

1.       Weight too much or too little for height and age.

2.       Weak muscles.

3.       Bowlegs or knock-knees.

4.       Skin dry and rough mucous membrane.

5.       Eyes dull, night blindness, poor sight.

6.       Hearing poor.

7.       Mouth breathing and adenoids will be present.

8.       Malocclusion of teeth, dental caries, spongy gums.

9.       Tonsils are enlarged, often infected.

10.     Abnormal gaite, twisted spine, protruding abdomen.

11.     Nervous, anxious, irritable, slow to learn.

12.     They are tired and listless.

13.     Poor resistance to infections.