How Nutrition Really Works

letslearnsomething87
Jul 5, 2021
3 min read

In today's world, it's impossible to avoid the articles, blogs, magazines, and everything else of the sorts which passively-aggressively points out that you aren't eating healthy enough.

All of these articles and such tell you what you should be eating and why. But what's the science behind it? That's what we'll be determining here.

A Quick Reminder - What Nutrition is All About

Let's be honest—the last time anyone paid attention to what nutrition was was back in Sophomore year of high school to get through that necessary half-credit to graduate. No shame in that.

Nutrition is the study of how foods and drinks affect the healthiness of the body. You know, we've all seen the articles that make us feel guilty after eating a not-so-great snack.

Many of us have seen the lovely little diagram of what percentage of our plate should be filled with what; half with fruits and vegetables, 25% protein, 25% grains, and a small serving of dairy (about three cups per day).

But why? Why do eating healthier foods make us more healthy?

Fruits & Vegetables

It's well known that eating your 'five a day!' can lead to a decreased risk of a plethora of diseases and conditions, including cancer and Type 2 Diabetes, due to the excess dietary fiber and vitamins. We hear this everywhere, but how exactly does it work?

One of the biggest components of fruits and vegetables is dietary fiber. A polysaccharide carbohydrate, dietary fiber is especially known for lowering blood cholesterol, overall helping a lot of the body. The "better" dietary fiber, soluble DF, works by clinging itself to cholesterol particles in the small intestine and preventing it from continuing its route throughout the body. It exits the body through the feces, bringing the cholesterol with it. As the cholesterol lowers, the risk for many other chronic illnesses can be significantly decreased.

Maybe it's worth ditching the chocolate bar then. But no promises.

Grains

Along with fruits and vegetables, grains are also rich in fiber. However, another key component is the amount of B-vitamins packed within them.

B-vitamins, such as thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin, are known for converting food into energy and keeping cells healthy. The vitamins assist in enzyme reaction rates, which support cell function. They are able to speed up metabolism rates and encourage chemical reactions.

Because of this, a lack of grains can cause anemia, tiredness, weakness, and more. Fun stuff.

Proteins

This one is the most fascinating. Within proteins, the most common healthy component is... protein. Duh.

Protein assists in growth, body structure, hormone messaging through the body, cell health, maintains body pH levels, and many more things.

The science behind proteins is pretty simple. As proteins go through the digestive system, the proteins are broken down to be building blocks and go through the bloodstream. Enzymes and cells are able to use this to promote healthy growth, structure, and overall a good body.

And Lastly, Dairy

The final component of our plate full of knowledge revolves around dairy. Milk, yogurt, cheese, and all of the sorts assist with body hardness and bone structure and health.

As you may have guessed, the most prominent component in dairy products is calcium. How it works is pretty interesting.

When bone tissue is produced, layers of collagen build up to form it as a sort of framework. Following this, calcium crystals go through your bloodstream to enter the layout of the collagen to build healthier, stronger bones.

So, maybe chocolate milk is an acceptable thing to drink here. That's the most important lesson out of this.

Fun Facts

A summary of little things here and there for a quick tidbit of facts.

Lemons are considered one of the most healthiest foods due to its plethora of vitamins and minerals
Lower-fat milk typically has more calcium than whole fat milk
Apples are 25% air
Over 95% of a cucumber is water
Despite what many think, Type 1 Diabetes is not caused by eating habits
Avocados have more fat than any other fruit
A sirloin steak has the same amount of protein as raw spinach
Spain is considered one of the healthiest countries in the world
USA nutrition label guidelines allow up to a 20% error margin on products
Calorie counts at restaurants do not have to be accurate, simply "reasonable"