Nutrition, health, and wellness - Essay Example

Essay Why do some scientists say to eat a certain amount of each a day? Scientists, especially those concerned with nutrition, vehemently advice to consume a balanced meal of carbohydrates, proteins and fats with a notion to prevent diseases in the long run. The past century has witnessed a dramatic change with respect to the eating habits of people across the world. This is due to the fast paced lifestyle and lack of interest as well as time to manage their food habits. Thus there is an increasing tendency to eat what one gets and move on.

This has resulted in a marked rise of diseases such as diabetes and various other heart ailments (Roache, 2000). Considering the general health of people, several organizations have come with a food guide pyramid, which serves as a guide for healthy eating. While the focus is on food, daily exercise and weight control form the basis of the pyramid as these, according to research conducted in several countries, have a strong influence on keeping the mind and body fit. The pyramid has a broad base which includes vegetables and whole grains and these should be consumed in sufficient quantities as they provide the much needed proteins to the body.

This is followed by whole breads, fruits, olive oil and leafy vegetables which need to be consumed in lesser amounts compared to the first. Plant-based products are generally suggested by nutritionists as they provide the necessary vitamins and minerals to the body and they have low carbohydrates and are usually devoid of fats. The next portion in the pyramid includes fish, poultry and other sea foods and nuts which could be consumed in moderate amounts as they contain considerable amount of healthy fats.

Milk and other dairy products can be consumed in limited quantities mainly for their protein content and finally the upper tip of the pyramid contains red meat, potatoes and aerated drinks which are unhealthy nutrition wise and are can be avoided. Thus the pyramid is constructed keeping in mind the nutritional benefits provided by foods and the amount in which they can be consumed (The Nutrition). Who designs these allotments? Both governmental and independent organizations formulate dietary guidelines and these are published for public viewing.

The health department and the agricultural department of the US government have released their dietary guidelines. A similar healthy eating pyramid has been designed by the faculty of the nutrition department at Harvard School. The Food and Drug Administration has released its set of dietary guidelines for Americans. In addition there is also a dietary guidelines advisory committee (DGAC) that ahs been formed which focuses on educating the public about their daily calorie intake. This calorie intake is based on the daily routine of the individual.

It also recommends what needs to be consumed to reach a particular calorie level depending on the taste of the person. Special calorie charts have also been designed for easy and better understanding of dietary intake. The guidelines encourage people to eat more of fruits, vegetables and low or non-fat dairy products. All the dietary guidelines published by these organizations are constantly updated in accordance with the latest research on foods and with respect to the changing needs of the general public (Roache, 2000; The Nutrition; USDA and HHS). And why?These guidelines are being framed by various organizations to help the people understand their nutritional requirements and to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent diseases in future.

They mainly focus on creating awareness about the nutritional content of various food stuffs to help people make better and wiser food choices and also promote the importance of exercise in maintaining good health. Reference:1. Roache, C. (Ed.). (2000, July 21). What’s Wrong with this Pyramid? Around the School. Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ats/Jul21/index.html2. The Nutrition Source. Healthy Eating Pyramid. Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://www.hsph.harvard.

edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you- eat/pyramid/index.html3. USDA and HHS Unveil Revised Dietary Guidelines For Americans. (2005, January 17). Dairy Council of California. Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://www.dairycouncilofca.org/MediaRoom/News/MaterialsReleases102.aspx