The Importance of Good Nutrition (2024)

Your daily food choices make a big difference in your health.

The Importance of Good Nutrition (1)

The Importance of Good Nutrition (2)

Why it's important

Most people know good nutrition and physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight. But the benefits of good nutrition go beyond weight. Good nutrition can help:

  • Reduce the risk of some diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, some cancers, and osteoporosis
  • Reduce high blood pressure
  • Lower high cholesterol
  • Improve your well-being
  • Improve your ability to fight off illness
  • Improve your ability to recover from illness or injury
  • Increase your energy level

What is good nutrition?

Good nutrition means your body gets all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals it needs to work its best. Plan your meals and snacks to include nutrient-dense foods that are also low in calories.

Tips for eating well

The Importance of Good Nutrition (3)

Eat plenty of fruit

To get the benefit of the natural fiber in fruits, you should eat fruit whole rather than as juices.

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Eat plenty of vegetables

Eat a variety of colors and types of vegetables every day.

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Eat plenty of whole grains

At least half of the cereals, breads, crackers, and pastas you eat should be made from whole grains.

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Choose low fat or fat free milk

These provide calcium and vitamin D to help keep your bones strong.

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Choose lean meats

Lean cuts of meat and poultry have less fat and fewer calories but are still good sources of protein.

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Try other sources of protein

Try replacing meats and poultry with fish, beans, or tofu.

How to fix 5 common eating problems

As you age, you may lose interest in eating and cooking. Small changes can help you overcome some of the challenges to eating well.

1. Food no longer tastes good.

Try new recipes or adding different herbs and spices. Some medicines can affect your appetite or sense of taste - talk to your doctor.

2. Chewing difficulty.

Try softer foods like cooked vegetables, beans, eggs, applesauce, and canned fruit. Talk to your doctor or dentist if there is a problem with your teeth or gums.

3. Poor digestion.

Talk to your doctor or registered dietician to figure out which foods to avoid while still maintaining a balanced diet.

4. Eating alone.

Try dining out with family, friends, or neighbors. See if your local senior center hosts group meals.

5. Difficulty shopping or cooking.

Check with your local senior center for programs that can help you with shopping or preparing meals.

Learn more about good nutrition from our Health Library:

The Importance of Good Nutrition (2024)

FAQs

The Importance of Good Nutrition? ›

A well-balanced diet provides all of the: energy you need to keep active throughout the day. nutrients you need for growth and repair, helping you to stay strong and healthy and help to prevent diet-related illness, such as some cancers.

What is the importance of good nutrition? ›

A healthy diet is essential for good health and nutrition. It protects you against many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats, are essential for healthy diet.

What is the importance of eating enough? ›

When you don't eat enough, your body goes into survival mode and starts breaking down muscle to release the glucose stored inside, which can be used for energy. Because you're not taking in enough calories, your body slows down your metabolism in an effort to conserve energy.

What is the importance of good nutrition essay? ›

Having good nutrition can help: reduce the risk of different diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, various types of cancers, and osteoporosis. Good Nutrition also reduces high blood pressure and it can lower high cholesterol.

What is the most important nutrition and why? ›

Water is probably the most important essential nutrient that a person needs. A person can only survive a few days without consuming water. Even slight dehydration can cause headaches and impaired physical and mental functioning. The human body is made up of mostly water, and every cell requires water to function.

What is nutrition Why is it important? ›

Nutrients help the organisms to derive energy, build muscles, cure deficiency diseases, fulfil mineral needs and provide fluid to various parts of the body. Nutrition is very important for the organ systems to coordinate well for the overall growth and development of the whole body of the organism.

Why is it important to have good health? ›

Your health is one of the most important things in your life. It affects your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. That's why it's so important to be proactive about your health and take steps to prevent illness and disease. Being proactive in health means taking steps to improve your health before you get sick.

Why is it important to have enough food? ›

Food insecurity can lead to Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity. More than half the households the Feeding America network serves have at least one member living with high blood pressure and more than one-third have a member with diabetes.

Why is it bad to not eat enough? ›

In no order of importance; Heart, Circulation and Temperature: The heart is a muscle which can be eroded by extreme under-eating and thus becomes weaker. Blood pressure may fall to dangerous levels and pulse rate slows up. Sluggish circulation can lead to ulcers on the legs and feelings of extreme cold.

What happens when you finally eat enough? ›

If we want to fuel our brain correctly, perform well, and build muscle, then we need to be eating at least at maintenance! With a little bit of a surplus, you can see that there will be benefits such as increased energy and mood, productivity, muscle growth… all the things you need to go and boss your life!

Why is nutrition and healthy living important? ›

Maintaining a good diet is one of the best things you can do for your health. Following nutritious eating habits can protect you from heart disease, cancer, or other diseases, and is crucial to your overall health.

Why are nutrients important to our body? ›

Nutrients are substances required by the body to perform its basic functions. Nutrients must be obtained from our diet since the human body can not make them. Nutrients have one or more of three basic functions: they provide energy, contribute to body structure, and/or regulate chemical processes in the body.

Why is it important to have good nutrition? ›

Nutrition is a critical part of health and development. Better nutrition is related to improved infant, child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, lower risk of non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and longevity.

Why is nutrition major important? ›

Majoring in Nutritional Science is right for you if you're:

Interested in a career that helps people prevent and manage diseases. Committed to positively impacting individuals, communities, and global health outcomes by promoting evidence-based nutrition practices.

What is the meaning of good nutrition? ›

Good nutrition means eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals to fuel your body with what it needs. Good nutrition means eating a balanced and healthy diet. It's important to make sure you are getting the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to function properly.

Why is good nutrition important in the life cycle? ›

A balanced diet is essential for mother and child during pregnancy and lactation, as well as for fast growing children during infancy and adolescence. Increased nutrient density of diets is key during these vulnerable life periods to support growth, immunity and cognitive development.

How does good nutrition affect your lifelong health? ›

Eating smart and being active have similar effects on our health. These include: Reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and some cancers and associated disabilities. Prevent weight gain and/or promote weight loss.

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