Concept of nutrition and its importance
At puberty, adolescents experience very quick physical development. To support
this physical growth and development they need adequate nutrition. They should
take a proper quantity of food with all necessary ingredients to supply
energy, repair decay, and prevent diseases at the growing stage.
Lack of nutritious food causes mental and physical retardation and reduces the
immune system. Therefore compared to other stages of life, people need more
nutritious food at puberty. At this age, children remain busy with study,
games, and sports, etc. Due to their physical activity, they need more
calories. The intake of low-calorie food hampers physical and mental
development.
Food ingredients
There are a number of ingredients of food namely protein, carbohydrate, fat,
vitamin, minerals, and water. Any food rich in any of the ingredients is known
as such, for example, any food that contains protein is known as proteins and
the food that contains carbohydrates is known as carbohydrates.
Sources of nutrients and their functions
Protein is necessary for bodybuilding, development, and growth of the body and
to repair physical decay. Proteins are required for body energy and immunity.
Fish, meat, milk, eggs, cheese, curd, pulses, beans, etc. are common sources
of proteins.
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for all activities. Rice, wheat,
corn, potato, sugar, honey, arum roots, sweets, etc. are sources of
carbohydrates. Fats generate heat and energy for the body. Butter, ghee, fat,
soya bean, milk, fish oil, coconut oil, etc. are the sources of fat.
Vitamins are essential to prevent diseases, maintain different activities
inside the body and protect it from decay. Fish, meat, egg, milk, mustard oil,
fish oil, green and red vegetables, fruits, beans, oilseeds, coarse ice, wheat
with fiber, sprouted seeds are the sources of vitamins.
Minerals are very important for the internal functions of the body. There are
many minerals in our body and every time they are discharged with urine,
stool, and sweats they cause body decay. Some common minerals of our body are
calcium, phosphorus, iodine, sodium, potassium, etc.
In order to compensate for the loss of minerals, we take salt, milk, milk
food, small fish, meat, yolk, beans, vegetables, pulses, lime, banana, green
coconut water, etc. 70% of our body consists of water. Water helps in
maintaining the body structure, keeps the body cool and active, helps digest
food, helps in blood circulation, transpiration of nutrition inside the body
and also it helps digest food, helps in blood circulation, transpiration of
nutrition inside the body and also it helps in exertion.
Timely intake of a sufficient amount of food is necessary for the maintenance
and development of the body. By appropriate food, we mean a balanced diet. A
balanced diet supplies the required calories to the body. A balanced diet
contains the proper amount of each of the six nutrients mentioned above.
The required amount of balanced diet varies, depending on the age of people.
For example, the requirements of carbohydrate, protein, fats, and other
nutrients by an adolescent is higher than that of a child. Therefore the
requirement of a balanced diet varies according to age, sex, and body
structure.
