Introduction
Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining people’s health and overall well-being. Good nutrition is associated with enhanced infant, maternal, and child health, safer childbirth and pregnancy, stronger immune systems, and reduced risks of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and improved longevity. People with sufficient nutrition are more productive and may generate opportunities to break the cycles of hunger and poverty. However, malnutrition poses a substantial threat to people’s health (World Health Organization, 2022). The essay examines the significance of nutrition, highlighting the detrimental effects of inadequate nutrition and inactivity on health and wellness, as well as strategies to prevent adverse health conditions and promote overall well-being.
Importance of Good Nutrition
Good nutrition plays a critical role in people’s lives, as it can help guard against malnutrition and prevent illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Additionally, a balanced diet helps sustain a healthy immune system. A person’s immune system is the primary defense against illnesses; poor nutrition may increase their susceptibility to diseases. A well-balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruits, and low-fat dairy products may help maintain a robust and healthy immune system, thereby defending the body against future diseases (Calder, 2021). Furthermore, a better diet provides people with adequate energy from their food and drinks.
Fats, carbohydrates, and proteins are the primary nutrients from which humans obtain energy. Carbohydrates can be found in foods such as starchy vegetables and whole-grain breads. The digestion of these foods takes time, thus providing prolonged energy (Fukagawa & Ziska, 2019). Moreover, water is vital for transporting nutrients throughout the body, and dehydration due to a lack of water leads to a decrease in energy.
Nonetheless, diets with low carbohydrates can be detrimental to one’s mood. These diets high in carbohydrates have been shown to enhance moods in people compared to those following low-carbohydrate diets. A diet rich in carbohydrates, low in fat, and high in protein will help one attain sufficient omega-3 fatty acids and iron, which can positively boost one’s mood. Furthermore, eating a healthy diet may also support mental and physical health, as it provides more energy and encourages individuals to become more active (Zavitsanou & Drigas, 2021). People’s lives can be lengthened by consuming diets rich in healthy nutrients with little to no processed foods.
Poor Nutrition and Inactivity
Poor eating patterns include overeating, inadequate consumption of healthy diets, excessive intake of drinks and foods high in fat, sugar, and salt, or low in fiber. Therefore, these unhealthy eating habits may lead to an imbalance in the consumption of protein, energy, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, fluids, and fiber in unwarranted proportions (Divella et al., 2021). Poor nutrition and inactivity can impair people’s daily health and wellness, limiting their ability to live happy and active lives. It leads to tiredness, stress, and a decrease in their capacity to work (Szinay et al., 2021).
In addition, it contributes to the danger of developing certain diseases and other health issues, such as tooth decay, obesity or overweight, high cholesterol, depression, eating disorders, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The study noted that engaging in unhealthy weight control, consuming takeaways/fast foods, and being obese or overweight lead to students being inactive in school sporting activities (Lucassen et al., 2019). The diseases are associated with poor nutrition and lack of exercise.
Consequently, an inadequate healthy diet and physical inactivity are significant health risk behaviors related to mental and physical health issues. It is noted that socially neglected older and middle-aged adults are prone to becoming physically inactive and have diets that are insufficient in vegetables and fruits, based on their daily intake (Delerue Matos et al., 2021). Thus, it implies that there is a need to adopt social and health policies that target older people in society.
Promotion of Overall Good Health and Wellness
Occupational therapy plays a significant role in promoting health and wellness among the population. A balanced structure of occupations improves health and meets the needs of families, individuals, populations, and communities. Occupational therapy practitioners should be involved in delivering and developing services and programs that promote the public’s wellness, health, and social participation (Reitz & Scaffa, 2020).
The path to enhanced health and wellness involves eating a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, losing weight if overweight, protecting one’s skin, avoiding tobacco use, practicing safe sex, and reducing excessive alcohol consumption. In addition, with smartphones enabling the development and application of apps, there is currently an increase in mobile health programs focused on healthy eating, physical exercise, alcohol and smoking cessation, as well as enhanced psychological wellness. It has been noted that apps can encourage rehearsal or practice besides daily activities. The apps enable users to easily monitor their behaviors (McKay et al., 2019). The apps help promote substantial and sustained lifestyle behavioral change, thereby leading to better health.
Conclusion
Good nutrition supports and promotes reduced vulnerability to illnesses, as well as better physical and mental health, leading to academic success and cognitive development. Healthy diets offer numerous benefits and support individuals in various aspects of life. However, unhealthy diets, such as those high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fats, may drain one’s energy levels. Therefore, to avoid malnutrition and other unhealthy conditions, people must consume a balanced diet comprising a range of nutrients to nourish their bodies.
References
Calder, P. C. (2021). Nutrition and immunity: lessons for COVID-19. Nutrition & Diabetes, 11(1). Web.
Delerue Matos, A., Barbosa, F., Cunha, C., Voss, G., & Correia, F. (2021). Social isolation, physical inactivity and inadequate diet among European middle-aged and older adults. BMC Public Health, 21(1). Web.
Divella, R., De Palma, G., Tufaro, A., Pelagio, G., Gadaleta-Caldarola, G., Bringiotti, R., & Paradiso, A. (2021). Diet, Probiotics and Physical Activity: The Right Allies for a Healthy Microbiota. Anticancer Research, 41(6), 2759–2772. Web.
Fukagawa, N. K., & Ziska, L. H. (2019). Rice: Importance for Global Nutrition. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 65(Supplement), S2–S3. Web.
Lucassen, M. F., Guntupalli, A. M., Clark, T., Fenaughty, J., Denny, S., Fleming, T., Smith, M., & Utter, J. (2019). Body size and weight, and the nutrition and activity behaviours of sexual and gender minority youth: findings and implications from New Zealand. Public Health Nutrition, 22(13), 2346–2356. Web.
McKay, F. H., Wright, A., Shill, J., Stephens, H., & Uccellini, M. (2019). Using Health and Well-Being Apps for Behavior Change: A Systematic Search and Rating of Apps. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 7(7), e11926. Web.
Reitz, S. M., & Scaffa, M. E. (2020). Occupational Therapy in the Promotion of Health and Well-Being. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(3). Web.
Szinay, D., Perski, O., Jones, A., Chadborn, T., Brown, J., & Naughton, F. (2021). Perceptions of factors influencing engagement with health and wellbeing apps: a qualitative study using the COM-B model and Theoretical Domains Framework as an analytical framework (Preprint). JMIR MHealth and UHealth. Web.
World Health Organization. (2022). Nutrition. Web.
Zavitsanou, A., & Drigas, A. (2021). Nutrition in mental and physical health. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 23, 67–77. Web.