Nutrition: Diet And Sanitation

Nutrition: Diet And Sanitation

Diet

The main objectives of a good diet are to
1) maintain optimal bodily functions.
2) avoid nutritional deficiencies and excesses.
3) make eating tasty and enjoyable.

Our diet must incorporate the proper proportions of food components in the right quantities so that the amount of energy (measured in Calories) obtained from the food is appropriate for our level of activity and our age, since as we mature our bodies require fewer Calories.

The diet must provide essential vitamins and minerals, avoid harmful substances that degrade health, and take into consideration individual allergies and intolerances to specific foods.

The human body does not function in isolation from its environment. The mouth and intestines harbor many types of bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum that have adapted to live within our body. These probiotic bacteria prevent harmful bacteria from becoming established, help to digest some foods, and produce some necessary vitamins and nutrients. Yogurt, kefirs, cheese, sour cream and other foods have these beneficial bacteria.

Sanitation

Since many diseases are caused by environmental contaminants and disease-causing organisms, one of the most important things that we can do for our health is to reduce our exposure to them. Here are some helpful sanitation tips:
  • Wash your hands before cooking or eating.
  • Wash your hands after shaking hands, handling money, touching door handles, elevator buttons, light switches, and handrails in public places and after using the bathroom.
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose, mouth, or any food after touching any contaminated surfaces until you have washed your hands.
  • Brush and floss your teeth every day before going to bed to prevent gum diseases and dental decay.
  • Vegetables that are eaten raw, such as carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, etc., should be washed thoroughly. It is a good idea to wash fruits that are cut, such as melons, to avoid transferring any dirt or contamination from the outside of the fruit to the inside during cutting.
  • Cook meats and seafood. Cooking will kill bacteria, protozoa, and parasites. However, some bacteria produce toxins that are not destroyed by heat.
  • Keep food refrigerated to avoid spoilage.
  • Do not eat spoiled or rancid food, or any food that has an unpleasant smell or taste.
  • Breathe clean air. Do not smoke.Avoid smoky, dusty, musty environments, or confined places where people are coughing or sneezing.
  • Also, avoid fumes from paints, solvents, stoves, motor vehicles, and burning candles.
  • Avoid environmental toxins and avoid coming in contact with organic solvents, fuels, and pesticides that may be absorbed through the skin such as turpentine, gasoline, kerosene, paint thinners, dry-cleaning agents, and insecticide sprays. These substances can damage the liver, the kidneys, and the nervous system.
  • Avoid contact or ingestion of toxic heavy metals such as lead or mercury. Ingestion of heavy metals is often unintentional and is caused by being unaware of the chemicals in the environment or in household items.
  • Lead contamination can occur by handling ammunition, solder, or lead weights used for fishing, by chewing on painted objects, by handling or using hair colors such as Grecian Formula which contain lead acetate, by drinking liquids stored in lead crystal decanters, or by eating foods from lead crystal or ornamental ceramic dishes.
  • Mercury contamination may be caused by leaching of silver amalgams used to fill dental cavities or from exposure to mercury from broken thermometers. The dental amalgam issue is controversial. Dentists claim that they are quite safe, whereas some scientific studies show that there may be renal, neurological, and other complications from the mercury released by amalgams.
  • Cadmium and other toxic metals are found in artists' colors.
  • Arsenic and chromium are present in many pressure-treated woods used for outdoor decks and furniture. The metals may be absorbed by direct contact of the skin with the wood or by breathing dust from the wood. Carpenters who handle treated wood and young children crawling on wooden decks or using playground equipment made from treated wood are specially at risk.
Heavy metal poisoning is difficult to diagnose because it may cause dizziness, anemia, confusion, loss of weight, neurological problems, and other symptoms that can be attributed to other more common diseases.

Thanks for Reading This Nutrition: Diet And Sanitation.

Fitness Topics
  • Stumble This
  • Fav This With Technorati
  • Add To Del.icio.us
  • Digg This
  • Add To Facebook
  • Add To Yahoo
 

Nutrition And Exercises For Gaining Muscle Mass All rights reserved. Terms-Of-Use. Privacy-Policy.