Essay Example on The six classes of nutrients that contribute to human Growth

The six classes of nutrients that contribute to human growth and function include proteins carbohydrates lipids vitamins minerals and water According to Thompson Manore Proteins contain carbon hydrogen and oxygen 11 Proteins also contain nitrogen and these elements work together create amino acids Amino acids are important for the human body because the play a role in building cells and protecting bone strength Thompson Manore 11 Protein is largely received from foods such as meats cheese and legumes Proteins can also be used as an energy source for the body However the majority of a human s energy is derived from carbohydrates Carbohydrates are made up of carbon hydrogen and oxygen and directly impact the brain Thompson Manore 10 Carbohydrates are found in foods such as bean dairy rice pasta and bread Lipids also known as fats is also a source of energy for the body The human body has the ability to store fat and burn it at a later time for energy Fats are also essential for the transportation of certain vitamins that are soluble only in fat into our body Thompson Manore 11 Vitamins are important for the body because they regulate task performed by the body 

According to Thompson vitamins assist with releasing and using the energy in carbohydrates fats and proteins They are also critical in building and maintaining healthy bone muscle and blood supporting our immune system so that we can fight infection and disease and ensuring healthy vision Thompson Manore 11 Minerals are responsible for regulating fluid and producing energy within the body Examples of a mineral include sodium calcium iron potassium and magnesium The last class of nutrients to discuss is water Water is critical for regulating nerve impulses body temperature muscle contractions and the excretion of waste Thompson Manore 12 Without these different classes of nutrients the body wouldn t function adequately for survival Obesity atherosclerosis hypertension and type 2 diabetes are a few examples of chronic diseases that are directly affected by ones diet According to Thompson Manore Clinicians define obesity as having an excess body fat that adversely affects health 345 Being obese is a growing problem for the united states and can be deadly The diseases itself is linked to many other complications such as stroke gallbladder disease sleep apnea and infertility Thompson Manore 372 Eating a healthy diet and obtaining the correct BMI for ones height and frame can lower the risk of developing one of these complications Hypertension and atherosclerosis are both cardiovascular diseases Atherosclerosis is when the arteries are filled with plaque that impairs the blood flow through the heart and body Thompson Manore 168 This is derived from eating high cholesterol foods Once atherosclerosis is reached there is a high chance of having high blood pressure because the arteries are now stiff and narrow Other ways hypertension can be caused is dietary factors such as excess salt and alcohol intake Hypertension not only puts one at risk for a heart attack but it can also harm other major organs such as the kidneys and brain Thompson Manore 170 Type 2 diabetes is caused when the cells of the body become defiant to insulin Thompson Manore 132 Eating a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates alongside other genetic factors and chronic diseases can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes All of the chronic diseases listed have modifiable risk factors that directly correlate with ones diet Nutrition alone can prevent many diseases not discussed such as cancer osteoporosis stroke liver disease and dyslipidemia The correlation of diet and health is incredible 

According to Choose My Plate the five food groups include fruit vegetables grains protein dairy and oils The illustration includes a plate equally divided into the food categories listed to help one visualize what it looks like to eat a balanced healthy meal The largest two portions on the plate are the vegetables and grains The fruit and protein appear smaller but equal in size to one another Some examples of vegetables include broccoli zucchini kale spinach and lima beans Some examples from the fruit category include apples oranges and bananas The grains category includes but is not limited to rice bread and pasta The protein category includes meats fish beans nuts and seeds The dairy category is not represented on the plate but on the side as a glass of milk The oils category is also not shown on the plate but usually consist of what the food is cooked in such as olive peanut or coconut oil According to Choose My Plate Eating healthy is a journey shaped by many factors including our stage of life situations preferences access to food culture traditions and the personal decisions we make over time All your food and beverage choices count MyPlate offers ideas and tips to help you create a healthier eating style that meets your individual needs and improves your health MyPlate is an excellent tool to teach not only children but adults across the country struggling with healthy eating habits It gives you something to actually compare your everyday meals to The amount of each of the five food groups that should be consumed by a specific individual can be found on the website and is decided by sex age and physical activity