Running head: NUTRITION - HEALTHY VERSUS UNHEALTHY 1

Nutrition - Healthy Versus Unhealthy

Shannon Sheffer & Julie Walker
Ferris State University




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Abstract
Personal health is crucially essential to each individuals well-being. It also contributes to and
promotes the quality and quantity of life. Nutritious and healthy food (in combination with
regular physical activity) is the gateway that promotes a healthy lifestyle. The primary purpose
of this paper is to detail a healthy versus unhealthy diet. Certain foods affect the human body in
both positive and negative manners. Several health issues are directly related to the regular
consumption of unhealthy foods that are high in calories, fat, and sugar. The food pyramid,
published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), contains daily nutritional
recommendations that are applicable to everyone. Finally, ones psyche, culture, and other
social factors play an important role when making the choice between health and unhealthy
foods.
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Nutrition - Healthy Versus Unhealthy
Nutrition is a necessity of life. It is used to sustain each human as the body craves the
vitamins, minerals, nutrients, fats, and other vital substances present in food. This aids in the
growth, strength, and continued activity of the human race. Food, however, is a way of life. It is
used to celebrate and commemorate special occasions, grieve the loss of something or someone,
and pass the time when boredom occurs. In todays society, food has become less about
sustenance and more about indulgence and satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to compare
and contrast a healthy versus unhealthy diet. This paper will also address the health factors
associated with each diet. In addition, this paper will briefly discuss some reasons for the vast
obesity problem in America and its result in healthcare.
According to an article written by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity
is a leading factor for many health related problems in humans. The cause of obesity may be
related to many different factors, but the most common include increase caloric consumption
coupled with a decrease in physical activity. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention
states that overweight and obesity and their associated health problems have a significant
economic impact on the U.S. health care system (2012). This same article states that the
medical care costs of obesity in the United Statestotaled about $147 billion in 2008 (Center
for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012).
Healthy Diet
The importance of a healthy and nutritious diet is not to be underestimated. The United
States Department of Agriculture developed and published a guide in an effort to aid and direct
citizens of this country in choosing the proper types and amount of foods to consume. This
booklet, entitled The Food Guide Pyramid, depicts information about the nutritional content of
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different foods. This guide also contains an illustration to show readers six different food
groups, each with a recommended consumption rate. According to this guide, each person
should consume between 6-11 servings of grains, 3-5 portions of vegetables, 2-4 servings of
fruit, 2-3 portions of protein from meat, beans, nuts, and eggs, 2-3 servings of milk and cheese,
and a very small amount of fats, oils, and sugar per day. According to the United States
Department of Agriculture (2013), the Food Pyramid is not a rigid prescription, but a general
guide that lets you choose a healthful diet thats right for you.
An article written by the National Institute of Health states that the best way to give your
body the balanced nutrition it needs is by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods every day
(2013). In correlation with this statement, one section in The Food Guide Pyramid details the
optimal dietary recommendations specific to Americans. This guide recommends eating a diet
filled with healthy grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins in order to sustain and energize
the body. A food regimen that contains a decreased amount of fats and cholesterol will aid in
diminishing the chance of a myocardial infarction as well as help with weight reduction and
maintenance. Although many Americans consume many sugary substances, this guide
recommends a restrained amount of sugar due to its high caloric content and low health content.
Eating an abundance of sugar will not only increase the amount of calories consumed, but also
promote degeneration of the teeth. In addition, if alcohol is consumed, it is recommended in
limited quantities. Alcohol is full of sugar and provides many calories, yet little nutritional
support. Also, excessive alcohol use has the ability to cause degeneration to the liver as well as
physical dependence issues. This guide states the importance of following a proportional eating
and exercise plan in an effort to increase the health of the human body. This proposal states that
abiding by this plan will aid in weight management as well as healthy organs, such as the heart
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and lungs. This type of plan will also decrease the probability of dealing with health related
issues such as hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, type II diabetes, and some types of cancer
(United States Department of Agriculture, 2013).
In light of this information, it is important to note that a healthy diet in conjunction with
regular exercise can surely promote a healthy lifestyle. The United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) notes that each of these food groups provides some, but not all, of the
nutrients you needno one food group is more important than another for good health, you
need them all (2013).
Unhealthy Diet
The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes increases in rates of disease and
mortality to unhealthy trends in nutrition. One of these unhealthy trends includes a decreased
intake of fruits and vegetables which results in 1.7 million deaths worldwide. Additionally, the
consumption of salt is more than twice the recommended amount. This together with the
increased intake of saturated and trans fats are considered to be contributing factors to
cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death worldwide (2011).
Not only is over-consumption of macro nutrients such as sugars and fats a major
component of poor diet, so too are less than adequate intake of vitamins, minerals, and
antioxidants. These vital compounds (Livestrong, 2010) assist the human body in repairing
itself and in defending against diseases. Inadequate intake of these nutrients has become an issue
to the effect that the American Cancer Society estimates that deaths due to cancer in the United
States could be decreased by as much as 30 percent with proper nutrition (Livestrong, 2010).
The trend toward unhealthy dietary choices is thought to be caused by a variety of
factors. Pender (2011) speaks of psychological factors causing individuals to choose foods high
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in simple sugars and saturated fats due to using such as rewards or to compensate for negative
emotions. Additionally, individuals may also become dependent on the energy spurt that
results from intake of sugary foods (Pender, 2011, p. 177). Hormonal factors may also cause
these individuals to not feel satisfied from food intake, thus over-eating these already high
calorie foods.
According to Pender (2011), socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental factors also
play key roles in dietary choices. These factors are intertwined in that folks of similar cultural
and ethnic backgrounds often share similar environments, many times in neighborhoods of
relatively low socioeconomic status. The convenience and low cost of fast foods and processed
high-calorie foods in low-income neighborhoods increases likelihood of consumption of these
items. It is well known that foods comprised of complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and
fresh produce are more expensive than refined, processed foods. Added to this are the cultural
influences in which high calorie foods are associated with family gatherings, holidays, and
special events. Ones familial ties may cause tendencies toward using foods high in fats, sugars,
and salt as coping mechanisms.
Conclusion
Research shows that diet has become less about nourishment and more about ones
background, environment, and social status. Happily, organizations such as WHO and
authorities such as USDA and NIH are taking steps to promote healthier eating habits. It is
understood that education is an important first step toward combating the obesity epidemic and
the diseases and complications associated with it. Promotion of dietary guidelines such as the
Food Pyramid at a level understood by different age-groups intends to assist individuals in
creating good habits that can then influence their family and environment.
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References
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Causes and consequences -
what causes overweight and obesity? Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/
obesity/adult/causes/index.html
Livestrong. (2010). Information on bad nutrition. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/
article/255014-information-on-bad-nutrition/
The National Institute of Health. (2013). Healthy eating plan. Department of Health and
Human Services. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/
obesity/lose_wt/calories.htm
Pender, N. J., Murdaugh, C.L. & Parsons, M.A. (2009) Health promotion in nursing practice (6th

ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall

United States Department of Agriculture. (2013). The food guide pyramid. Retrieved from
http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/MyPyramid/OriginalFoodGuidePyramids/
FGP/FGPPamphlet.pdf
World Health Organization. (2011). Unhealthy diet. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/gho/
ncd/risk_factors/unhealthy_diet_text/en/index.html