Nutrition for Healthy Digestion

Terms You Should Know

• Nutrition : The process by which the body draws nutrients from food and uses them for body functions. 

• Calorie : It is a unit of energy. In human body it represents the amount of energy provided by food and spent by activity. Calories not used as energy are converted into fat and stored in the body. 

•  Metabolism : It is a term used to describe the production and use of energy by the body to perform its functions. It is a two-part process. One part is called catabolism, when the body spends energy. The other is called anabolism, when the body uses food to build or mend cells. Diabetes is considered a metabolic disease because it affects the body's ability to produce and use energy. 

• Obesity : An abnormal and excessive amount of body fat. Obese people have 20 per cent ( or more) extra body fat for their age, height and sex. Most obese people are significantly overweight. Obesity also occurs in people who are not overweight, but have more body fat than muscle 

• Carbohydrate : It is a constituent of food. It is of two types : (i) simple carbohydrate, e.g. sugar; (ii) complex carbohydrate ( starch), found in cereals, pulses and vegetables. Carbohydrate is broken down into glucose during digestion. 

• Fats : It is the most concentrated source of calories in the diet.. Another name for fat is lipid. It is of two types : 
  1. Saturated fats - found primarily in animal products and 
  2. Unsaturated fats - found mainly in plants. Unsaturated fats are of further two types - monounsaturated ( olive oil) or polyunsaturated A( corn oil). 

• Fatty Acids : A basic unit of fats. When insulin levels are too low or there is not enough glucose ( sugar) to use for energy, the body burns fatty acids for energy. 

• Fibre : The indigestible part of foods of plant origin is called fibre. Common examples are skin/peel of fruits and vegetables. They are of two types - soluble and insoluble. 

• Glycogen : A substance made up of sugars, it is stored in the liver and muscles. Glycogen is the chief source of stored fuel in the body. 

• Glycogenesis :The process by which glycogen is formed from glucose. 

• Lactose : A simple carbohydrate, there are a variety of sugars, such a s white, brown, and so on. Fructose, lactose, sucrose, maltose, dextrose, glucose, honey, corn syrup and molasses are also sugars. 

• Fructose : A type of sugar found in milk and milk sugars. 

• Glucose : The main source of energy for the body, it is produced by digestion of food. The amount of glucose in the blood is known as the blood glucose level. 

• Sucrose : Table sugar; a form of sugar that the body breaks down into a more simple form before the blood can absorb it an take it to the cells .

• Sugar substitute: Sweeteners used in place of sugar. Some sugar substitutes have calories and affect bloo0d glucose levels, such as fructose and sugar alcohols ( sorbitol and mannitol). Others have very few calories and do not affect blood glucose levels, such as saccharin and aspartame. 

Healthy eating is just a matter of eating a wide variety of foods and a balanced amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fat. It doesn't mean giving up special treats. You just have to make sure you account for the carbohydrates, proteins, fat, total calories and salt in your meal plan for the day. 

In order to ensure compliance, the prescribed diet should be individualized. It must be realistic, flexible and take into consideration the patient's likes and dislikes and must suit the his/her lifestyle. It is important to educate the patient about the basic requirements of the diet and judge compliance at regular intervals. The aim of nutrition therapy are as follows:

• Improvement in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism to as close to normal as possible. 

• Attainment of appropriate body weight. 

• Reduction in the risk of atherosclerosis. 

An ideal diet should have the following qualities

Guidelines for the use of carbohydrate 
Food Labeled 'Sugar Free' is not Really Sugar Free
Eating Fats Leads to Higher Body Fat as Compared to Carbohydrate or Proteins.
Healthy Food
Food Items to be Avoided
Guidelines for alcohol consumption
How to Change Eating Habits