FOOD CHOICES AND HUMAN HEALTH

LESSON 2

A. Nourishment over a lifetime: Good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle to eat healthy at a
young age will help us stay healthy throughout our life.
The right foods in the right amounts are key to a long and healthy life, and your body’s needs change as you get older. As
you age, your body’s dietary needs will change. These changes will continue throughout all life stages with the
requirements for calories, protein, vitamins and minerals adjusting as we grow older.
It can be a good idea to know the signs of poor nutrition so you can Do something of your food choices and health.
Signs of poor nutrition
1. Feeling tired
If you lack energy all the time, it can be a sign that you don’t get enough of certain nutrients, like iron. Too little of that
mineral can lead to anemia – when you don’t have enough red blood cells pump oxygen and nutrients to parts of your
body.
Fatigue also can be a symptom of some health conditions, like heart disease or a thyroid problem.
2. Brittle, dry hair
• nutrients like iron, folate and vitamin C are important for your hair. If you don’t get enough of these through your diet,
you might notice some unhealthy changes in it.
Your skin also might be thin and pale. But other health conditions, like a problem with your thyroid, can affect your hair
and skin too.
3. Ridged or spoon
Shaped nails – poor nutrition can cause several changes in your nails. Like your hair, your nails can get thin and brittle,
but there can be other signs as well One is nails that curve like a spoon, especially on your index finger or third finger.
That can mean you are low on iron.
Your nails also may be ridged or start to come apart from the nail bed. In addition to issues with iron, nail problems can
be caused by low levels of protein, calcium, or vitamins A, B6, C and D.
4. Dental problems
Your mouth is one of the first places where signs of poor nutrition can show up. Lack of vitamin C can cause the bleeding,
irritated gums of gingivitis (gum disease). In severe cases, you could even lose your teeth. If you have dentures or missing
or loose teeth, that can change your food choices.
• Poor nutrition then becomes a double-edged sword; if your mouth hurts and you have issues with your teeth, it’s even
harder to eat healthy foods. And that makes it harder to keep your teeth healthy.
5. Change in bowel movements — constipation can happen if you don’t get enough fiber, found in whole grains, fruits
and vegetables.
6. Mood and mental health issues – an unhealthy diet can play a role in depression. It can affect many different mental
tasks and make you lose interest in things you used to enjoy. You also might feel disoriented and have memory loss.
7. Easy bruising and slow healing — If you bruise easily, especially if there isn’t an obvious reason for it (like falling or
bumping into something), your diet might be playing a part. Specifically, you may be lacking in protein, vitamin C, or
vitamin K, all of which are needed to heal wounds.
Vitamin C helps tissue to repair itself, and vitamin K is important for blood clotting.
8. Slow Immune response – without the right nutrition, your immune system might not be as strong as it needs to be to
fight illness. Some of the most important nutrients for a strong immune system are protein and zinc, along with vitamin
A,C, and E.

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY:

The best way to prevent these kinds of issues is with a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains,
low-fat dairy and healthier oils.
Choose a variety of these foods at each meal to get the vitamins and minerals you need. And try to limit packaged or
processed foods and baked goods that are high in saturated and trans fat.
If you have trouble eating well, talk with your doctor about ways to make a healthy plan,
Challenge:

Why is nutrition important? What impact does it have on your physical and mental health?

B. NUTRITION AND THE HUMAN BODY

Discuss Digestion and nutrition in the human body. Make an illustration on how digestion takes place in the body.

WHY IS DIGESTION IMPORTANT?

Consider your body as a machine that runs on a fuel called Food. Now, the fuel needs to be compatible enough for the
consumption and that’s why digestion is important. It helps your body to acquire nutrients from food and drink To work
in perfect order and stay healthy.

Your digestive system breaks nutrients into parts small enough for your body to absorb and use for energy, growth, and
cell repair.

C. CULTURAL ASPECT OF FOODS

Food culture refers to the practices, attitudes and beliefs as well as the networks and institutions surrounding the
production, distribution and consumption of food.

• Cultural influences lead to the differences in the habitual consumption of certain foods and in traditions of preparation
and in certain cases can lead to restrictions such as exclusion of meat and milk from the diet.

Cooking with family members or with friends and loved ones brings us together because we are able to share our culture
and heritage through food and give each other nourishment. Food is also a great vehicle for sharing culture with people
from different backgrounds.

Food shows our values and way of life. What you eat and how you do it tells a lot about the person you are. Food sheds
light on the people’s way of life, their cultural values and their perspectives on life. For the Chinese, for example, their
food represents strong ties among the community

Whether you consider yourself a foodie or not, the fact is, you have to eat. Food has a way of bringing people together.

For example, when you have guests at home, the first thing you do is preferably prepare them a nice meal. Even, if you
don’t have anything else to offer, they will feel appreciated and warmly welcomed.

The food we eat has been passed down by us by generations that came before us.

The food that our parents prepared for us when we were feeling sick is most probably the same that you are likely to
prepare for yourself or your kids when feeling unwell.

• When you find yourself traveling to other parts of the world, making your traditional meal can be a great way of
alleviating your homesickness.

Reasons why food is the best option when it comes to getting a better understanding about culture.
1. Local cuisines give people identity.
-local cuisines
-identity of the people in the community.

2. Every dish has a story.

-history of pinakbet (Ilocos)
-bicol express, pigar-pigar (pangasinan)
-sisig (Pampanga), etc.

3. Food shows our values and way of life. What you eat and how you do it tells a lot about you. Food sheds light on the
people’s way of life, their cultural values and their perspectives on life.

4. Use food to get the information you need. If possible, join in the food preparation so that you can understand
that goes into a making a meal. When preparing a traditional meal, not that the locals are never in a hurry and
they use the same ingredients every time they prepare that dish.

This is to ensure it does not lose the original taste. As you get to know each other, they will be prompted to tell how their
community came to be, the challenges they have faced and the opportunities available in the region.

5. You can learn the people’s spending habits. The type of people consume food is likely to reflect their spending.

In summary – there are many ways to get information when it comes to learning a new culture.

The best methods should include interacting with the people on a personal level so that they can be comfortable around
you and will open up to you.

Getting people to trust you will no longer be a hustle since we now know that food and eating together brings people
together in a more effective and enjoyable way.

So, now that you’ve read the insights, did they help you to better understand the importance of food in learning about
culture?

D. MOTIVATING HEALTH BEHAVIOR CHANGE IN CHOOSING FOOD

Make a survey on motivating health behavior in choosing foods using these factors in your own family members.

Factors mood, health, sensory appeal, convenience, familiarity and price, weight control.