Figure 10: NEED OF FOOD
Every human body needs food, it is a basic important need for normal growth, development and energy. Nutritious food plays a vital role in the promotion of health and disease prevention.
Our body: The human body is just like a machine. Like an engine burning up fuel, in order to generate the required energy, the human body uses the consumed food in order to generate the driving forces to keep the heart beating, the lungs breathing and the limbs functioning.
Hunger: Hunger is a state during which the human body lacks the basic food intake to produce the necessary energy and nutrition to be fully active. Hunger is of two types:
Acute hunger is sudden and life threatening. It needs immediate and intense treatment. The cause can vary, depending on the situations such as conflict or natural disaster. Acute hunger accounts 8% of the world’s hunger.
Chronic hunger is gradual and occurs seasonally. When occurred, it can last for generations. It is less visible but affects many people.
Both Acute hunger as well as chronic hunger can lead to malnutrition.
Nutrition: The terms ‘food’ and ‘nutrition’ are sometimes used synonymously. Literally, it is not right. Food is a composite mixture of various ingredients that is consumed for nutrition. On the other hand, nutrition connotes a dynamic process in which the swallowed food is utilized by the human body for nourishment.
Malnutrition: The term “Malnutrition” means ‘badly nourished’. As much about what you eat is how much your body get nourished. When there is inadequate intake of protein, energy or carbohydrates or by frequent sickness or infection.
Causes of Hunger: Widely, there are many myths about the cause of hunger which generally misleads the people and keeps them from collectively helping to end hunger.
