Use and abuse of nutrition: Important things that everyone should know

Nutrition is extremely important for the proper growth and development of children and is equally essential for adults to lead a healthy and balanced life.

However, of late, disparities in the level of nutrition have been found to be very common. For example, children and people in certain areas are undernourished whereas in many urban areas people are facing problems due to overnourishment.

India this year is celebrating National Nutrition Week from Sept. 1 to Sept. 7 to create awareness about nutrition and its importance in living a healthy and quality life. And it can be better understood by knowing in detail about undernutrition and overnutrition.

What is overnutrition?

When you take more nutrients than needed it leads to overnutrition. There is a strong misconception among many people that you must daily consume a lot of nutrition-dense foods to stay healthy.

Of course, eating clean and fresh fruits, vegetables and grains is important for health but when consumed in excess it can lead to overnutrition which is not good. Rather not only undernourishment but overnourishment is also considered a malnutrition as it can cause negative effects on health.

Less physical activity and more consumption of calories have been the reason behind millions of people developing lifestyle diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes.

What is undernutrition?

When people do not get enough nutrients or calories undernutrition occurs. It is common among poor people and those residing in small villages where there is less awareness about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Not getting enough food or rather enough nutritious food can cause undernutrition. Also in some cases when a certain medical condition interferes with the body’s capacity to absorb nutrients, undernutrition occurs.

How to treat malnutrition?

Both undernutrition and overnutrition are types of malnutrition. In the case of overnutrition, health experts recommend making dietary adjustments and cutting down on the overall intake of calories. Including more vegetables, whole grains, and good sources of proteins and fats can help you reach the target.

To treat overnutrition, a person must avoid junk foods and unhealthy food options. Undernutrition can be prevented and treated by eating a lot of whole and nutrient-dense food items such as vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Healthcare givers may also recommend multivitamin supplements to overcome the deficiency of certain vitamins.