Overview
The disparity among mankind is a monumental fact that is not difficult to process. Hunger and starvation continue to challenge the survival of the poor and less fortunate people. Their existence depends mainly on the meager supply of food that they eat everyday. Without realizing the importance of many different nutrients found in many different foods, this population group are just satisfied to eat what is edible and available. For that matter, many suffer from different health conditions, especially the growth and development of the very vulnerable. Among those vulnerable are the very young, the pregnant and the very old. For the very young, many suffer from poor growth and development resulting from deficiency diseases due to inadequate nutrient intake. In pregnancy, many women suffer catastrophic effects such as stillborn or miscarriages resulting from nutrient deficiencies. For the very old, infections, dehydration and anemia are the classic syndrome resulting from malnutrition.While we assume that because of life's abundance the rich population receives their adequate nutrient needs, we are also must need to know that many from this populate also suffer similar health problems like the poor. Majority of this group assumes that their knowledge of the importance of having food to eat suffices the need to live in the hierarchy of society. Unfortunately, they lack awareness on the very important factor of not only to be alive, but of health - and that is only achieved from adequate and balanced nutrient intake.
The amount of energy that comes from food that we eat daily seems to be the prime importance of mankind's way of life. However, mankind also needs to understand the balance of surviving. For example, the body's activities must be sustained by the amount of energy from food it is received. This means that your food intake (what you eat) should equates your energy output (what your body can burn). Otherwise, imbalance results from either more intakes and less output, or more output and less intake.
The body's energy needs can only be met through proper nutrition - a well balanced meal. This means that you should eat to replenish what the body has used that day and to keep it going for the next day. When the body exerts energy, an appreciable amount of nutrients are used or lost and therefore, need to be replaced. However, there must be a "balancing act" of our daily living. All activities require energy from food to sustain life. Even the very common and simple way of living such as sleeping, breathing, snoring, eye blinking or when the body is at resting state - energy is still needed to sustain life. The rate at the resting state is called Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) or Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) which requires Basal Energy Expenditure (BEE).
The human body is made up of trillions of cells. Each cell's most important need is for energy (fuel), oxygen (for burning), and water (as the living environment). The nutrients that must come from food are very important components to build these cells. The basic principle of health is proper eating - this means that it is not about when and what to eat but know the basic components of that food you eat; and the basic components of foods are calories (energy) and nutrients. These nutrients are Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins, Minerals and Water. Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats (macronutrients) are referred to as "energy" nutrients because they provide energy to fuel the body. Whereas vitamins and minerals (micronutrients) do not contain calories, but they help the macronutrients complete their job. Vitamins and minerals are referred to as "essential" nutrients because they are needed to complete the body's chemical processes. However, because the body can not normally make them, they must be obtained from a food source.
Registered Dietitians (RDs) are professional experts in nutrition. As a RD, I hope to provide you with a clear guide on which route you should take with regards to nutrition and health. My mission is to provide you with the correct nutritional information by helping you learn and understand the basic principles of health by understanding the basic nutrients, its functions and its importance. By this token, you should be able to design your personalized dietary plan that provides optimal nutrition that fits your daily lifestyle, and meets your metabolic and physical demands.
-- Ofelia B. Mutia, M.S.,R.D.,L.D.
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