According to FoodDocs, food safety standards are requirements that foods and food manufacturers must meet to produce and serve safe food products for human consumption; this includes permissible food additives, freshness, composition, and total bacterial count. The purpose of food safety standards is to prevent the occurrence of different food-borne illnesses. The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) conducts an annual evaluation and enlists the top-performing countries based on food products' affordability, availability, sustainability, quality, and safety. Finland and Ireland ranked first and second, respectively, according to The Global Food Security Index 2022, which can found in Economist Impact. European food laws have a stricter approach towards food additive ingredients and chemical substances suspected of having carcinogenic effects on humans. America was ranked 13 out of 113 countries. When you hear that number, you may think, "Ohh, that's not terrible." But when you think about it, America did approve lab-grown meat. So what does that say about the value of human health? It's time to take responsibility for our health by understanding our bodies needs. That starts with knowing the food we put into our bodies. Six essential nutrients are vital substances that our bodies need to function correctly. Each nutrient plays a unique role in maintaining our overall health and well-being. Here's a brief summary of each nutrient:
1️⃣ Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are macronutrients that are the basis for human energy. Sometimes they are the preferred source of energy for the body. They are an organic ready source of energy that provides the body with easily accessible glucose the cells can use. Carbohydrates also provide structural constituents for the formation of cells. The food industry has technology that ultra-processes carbohydrates, provides simple sugars, and strips away most fiber. This is why restrictive diets often villainize carbohydrates. At the same time, most cultures worldwide have carbohydrate-rich food as the primary dietary staple; wheat, corn, quinoa, sorghum, or rice. The way to fully benefit from carbohydrates is to consume a natural source. Leave that overly processed mess alone.
2️⃣ Lipids (Fats)
Lipids, aka fats, are organic macronutrients from fatty acids or their derivatives. They are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. They include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids. Lipids provide insulation to vital organs and help maintain body temperature. Lipids provide stored energy to the body, help absorb vitamins, and support brain function.
3️⃣ Proteins
Proteins are large, organic, complex molecules that play multiple vital bodily roles. Proteins are necessary for tissue information, cell repair, regulating fluid balance, hormone production, and enzyme production. While they are essential for building solid muscles as a structural component, proteins also make up antibodies for the immune system and have transport and storage functions.
4️⃣ Minerals
Minerals are inorganic elements that come from soil and water and are absorbed by plants or eaten by animals. Our bodies need more significant amounts of certain minerals, such as calcium, to grow and stay healthy. Minerals are necessary for proper cellular function; they regulate body processes and comprise body tissue. Other minerals, like chromium, copper, iodine, iron, selenium, and zinc, are called trace minerals because you need only minimal amounts.
5️⃣ Vitamins
Vitamins are organic substances generally classified as fat-soluble (such as vitamins E or D) or water-soluble (such as vitamins C and B12). Their solubility, or ability to be dissolved and be transported in water, affects their metabolism and their ability to be stored. Vitamins regulate body functions and processes. They promote normal body-system functions by maintaining good health, supporting growth and development, and assisting in functioning enzymes and hormones.
6️⃣ Water
Water is an inorganic essential component of our bodies. It is vital for numerous physiological functions, including digestion, nutrient absorption, temperature regulation, and waste elimination. Water also transported essential nutrients to all body parts. Staying properly hydrated is crucial for overall health. Water is involved in fluid balance, nerve impulses, and muscle contraction.
Remember, a balanced and varied diet that includes these essential nutrients is key to maintaining optimal health.
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