Introduction to Nutrition in the Nutrition Course

The maintenance of health and the prevention of some diseases often depend on dietary habits. The manifestations of rickets, iron and vitamin deficiencies in emerging countries, and the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and arterial hypertension in developed countries, demonstrate the close relationship between nutrition and health.

Most people associate a healthy diet with a drastic decrease in the variety and quantity of foods, with little appeal to the palate and pleasure.

Such an idea, born of ignorance on the subject, keeps them tied to dietary patterns that prioritize some foods over others, without exploring a whole variety of possibilities that allow a balanced and healthy diet, while still being highly desirable and tasty.

Those who insist on maintaining an inadequate dietary regimen run the risk of suffering from some of the chronic degenerative diseases that most affect the world's population. Among the most frequent are the following:

• Obesity.

• Diabetes.

• Cardiovascular diseases.

• Some types of cancer.

The scientific community recommends that in order to attenuate the appearance and development of chronic degenerative diseases, man must correct some habits that lead a large percentage of the population to suffer from them at some point in their lives. The most important actions are:

• Quitting smoking.

• Perform regular physical activities.

• Modify eating habits.

Scholars also have often conflicting opinions regarding the type of food that brings more benefits to human health, these opinions are mainly grouped into three main groups:

• Those who defend an absolutely vegetarian diet.

• Those who promote a diet where proteins of animal origin prevail.

• Those who insist on the need for a balanced diet that includes nutrients of vegetable and animal origin. This seems to be the most correct criterion since it is defended by the majority of the scientific community that studies the subject.

On the other hand, it is not as easy as it seems to practice a healthy diet because it requires the following requirements:

• Budget to access quality food.

• Skills and time for the adequate preparation of food.

• Knowing the nutritional characteristics of food.

• Knowing the nutritional needs of the members of the family or group.

In this presentation we address some basic knowledge to help you prepare healthy diets while still being tasty and attractive. To this end, we will provide you with information and recommendations that will allow you to learn about the following aspects:

• The role that a balanced diet plays in health.

• Nutritional needs of the organism.

• The nutritional values of foods.

• The diets recommended for the different stages of life.

• Diets oriented to weight loss and sports practice.

• Aspects for the prevention and treatment of some diseases.