Why Is Food so Important?
According to Everyday Health, food is important because it provides people with nutrients for energy and good health. The right foods also boost happiness, increase mental functioning, help maintain the appropriate body weight and prevent specific illnesses.
Everyday Health states that food contains many components that influence health. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and minerals that are essential for the body’s systems to function properly. They also contain antioxidants, which reduce the risk of cancer. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains contain fiber, which provides additional protection from cancer as well as diabetes and heart disease. Dairy products provide calcium and other minerals, which increase bone strength and promote healthy teeth.
Everyday Health adds that proteins in foods are essential for tissue growth and repair. Without adequate protein, children do not grow properly, and adults grow weak from injuries. Protein is found in meats, beans, nuts and many other foods. Healthy fats from oils and nuts provide protection against dementia and promote healthy skin, hair and nails.
The Center for Young Women’s Health at the Boston Children’s Hospital explains that the body’s organs and systems start functioning poorly without adequate food intake. The heart weakens, which sometimes leads to an irregular heartbeat. The digestive system slows down. Bones become weak, and the brain has trouble thinking clearly, paying attention and regulating moods.
