Food for Health & Happiness

National Nutrition Month – “CELEBRATE A WORLD OF FLAVOURS”

National Nutrition Month is an annual nutrition education and information program created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In India, National Nutrition Week is observed from September 1 to September 7 to raise public awareness about nutrition and healthy eating habits.

DIET – HEALTHFUL LIVING ACCORDING TO PROPER SELECTION OF FOOD. IT CANNOT BE DECIDED BY A SINGLE MEAL – IT’S A LIFE TIME JOURNEY.

WHY WE EAT, WHAT WE EAT MATTERS MORE…

LET KITCHEN BE APOTHECRAY, FOOD BE THY MEDICINES

– HIPPOCRATES (FATHER OF MEDICINE)

Good nutrition fosters sound health. Food is the fuel to our body, which nourishes the entire system and good nutrients are the key. Each vital organ has a special story and the story is kept alive with proper nourishment.

This year the NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH FOCUSSES ON “CELEBRATE A WORLD OF FLAVORS”.

Taste and flavor are considered as special criteria for food. They go together and the primary function of flavor is to add taste to the food.

The basic five flavors are sweet, salt, sour, bitter and umami.

Taste & Flavour – Are They the Same?

Flavor and taste are two sides of a coin and the coin is the food. While taste is the emotion invoked when we eat something, flavour is an amalgam of taste and smell.

Role of Basic Flavor

Sweet

To ensure adequate intake of carbohydrates for energy in the body. All basic food rich in carbs have a sweet flavor in them.

Salt

To ensure adequate intake of salt, to regulate the amount of water in the body. It balances sweetness and helps in suppressing other flavors. The basic element is sodium, which is of great significance but required in minimal quantity.

Sour

Sour generally helps to detect the ripeness – a tangy sensation. It also promotes intake to balance concentrations of acids and bases in the body.

Bitter

To avoid harmful toxins and noxious substances. However, some bitter foods are incredibly nutritious which are generally plant-based and have significant health benefits.

Umami

It is a savory taste usually associated with meat. This flavor promotes salivary secretion and strongly influences the maintenance of overall health.

Each human is unique with different a body, goal, background, flavor and taste. National Nutrition Month is designed to bring attention and public awareness to the importance of choosing the correct food and doing adequate physical activity.

When we taste cuisines from around the globe, we not only get to experience various cultures, but it is also a novel way to give our body the nutrition it needs.

Key Take Away

• Diet diversification, focusing on quality and quantity nourishes your body. A healthy body makes you perform better.
• Keep a diet diary. It will tell you about your health status – seek qualified professional help to receive personalized nutrition care process.
• Encourage in nutrition label reading.
• From farm to plate, procure correctly – make street smart choices.
• Incorporate your favorite cultured foods and tradition.
• Better nutrition education leads to best nutrition practices for healthy brain and brawn.

EAT RIGHT, STAY HEALTHY!!!