National Nutrition Month 2023: Nutrition and Health

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Let’s celebrate National Nutrition Month

National Nutrition Month initially began in 1973 and became a month-long celebration in 1980 in response to growing interest in nutrition.

Each March, organizations committed to National Nutrition Month provide resources to encourage people to make smart food choices and develop good eating and physical activity habits that they can maintain throughout the year.

For this year and its 50th anniversary, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has chosen “Fuel for the Future” as its central theme for 2023.

Throughout the month of March, we are invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthy eating and physical activity habits.

Why is nutrition and health always related?

Nutrition is the study of the nutrients in food, how the body uses them and the relationship between diet, health and disease.

This specialty looks at how people can reduce their risk of disease through dietary choices – what happens if a person consumes too much or too little of a nutrient?

Nutrition is related to health because proper nutrition greatly enhances our well-being, both physically and mentally.

What are the benefits of nutrition for people to lead a healthy life?

Before making any changes in our diet, it is best to have the help of a nutrition professional who can advise us according to our individual needs.

Some of the benefits of good nutrition are:

Protects the body from disease:

There are many chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease, that are caused by poor nutrition.

By consuming foods that are beneficial for the body, you will be preventing diseases.

Strengthens the immune system:

For the immune system to function properly, it needs vitamins and minerals.

A balanced diet helps the immune system to function properly, protecting the body from various diseases and conditions.

Promotes physical and mental health:

Eating a good diet, containing all the nutrients our body needs, benefits mental health.

A balanced diet is essential:

Each food group provides different nutrients and benefits to the body, so a balanced diet that includes foods from all groups is essential.

Whole-grain products:

The body needs carbohydrates, preferably unrefined, providing energy, fiber, minerals, antioxidants and are also highly digestible.

Fruits and vegetables:

They are a great source of vitamins and minerals that help regulate all body functions and also protect against chronic diseases.

National Nutrition Month: how to shop healthy?

Healthy eating starts when we go to the supermarket to do the shopping

It is highly difficult to create nutritious and healthy dishes; therefore, a healthy shopping is easier if you think about it before leaving home, according to Paola Garza, licensed in Nutrition.

Here are some tips to keep in mind for smart shopping at the supermarket:

Plan ahead:

Having an empty fridge, freezer or pantry can lead us to rely on fast food or takeout, especially when we are on a tight schedule.

A great way to start planning is to create a recipe chart that details the meals we would like to eat during the week.

Keep the shopping list updated:

Keeping track of the foods we use, as well as new, healthy foods you want to try, will make the list task much easier.

Sourcing healthy foods:

This can be a challenge; however, the grocery shopping list is a helpful way to reduce the chances of buying unhealthy foods.

The most important thing is to make sure we include all the ones we will need to make healthy meals for the next few days.

Don’t buy treats:

Although there may be, these should be kept to a minimum; we should think about which products can provide more nutrients.

National Nutrition Month: What are the priorities?

What should be in abundance when shopping, according to experts, are:

• Essential: fruits, vegetables, vegetables, legumes, nuts, lean meats, seeds, fish, eggs, whole grains.
• Important: spices, dairy products, frozen vegetables and fruits, coffee or tea, infusions, wholemeal bread, extra virgin olive oil, cheeses, red meats.
• To avoid: sugar, ultra-processed and refined products, alcoholic and soft drinks, juices, cold meats, boxed cereals, sweeteners, precooked and frozen food, fast food.

From our My Health Fair platform we join this celebration and recommend consulting with registered dietitian nutritionists, who can help you reach your health goals.

Nutritionists also help us to treat or reduce the risk of chronic diseases related to diet and lifestyle.

Our sources: https://www.eatright.org/national-nutrition-month-2023, https://www.cdc.gov/, https://www.newswise.com/

Disclaimer:
Information on the My Health Fair website should not be construed as professional advice or medical recommendations.

Readers should direct any questions regarding personal health care to licensed physicians or other appropriate health care professionals.