How Nutrition Affects High School Students

Natalie Regula, JAHS Senior

    Have you ever thought about the effects of eating certain foods have on your body? It can actually make a huge difference in performance at school, extra curricular activities and sports. Starting to eat healthy and calculating the nutrients that go into your body should be started at a very young age. By starting when you are in high school or even earlier, you can protect yourselves from obesity, disease, and even certain cancers in adulthood. It is important to know the positives and few negatives of the topic to decide if you are ready to commit to eating healthy.

    Many have trouble determining what foods are nutritious and which are to be avoided. The food pyramid lays out the guidelines for this by categorizing foods by grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, dairy, and protein. If the certain food falls into any of these categories, it has nutrients that are required in your daily diet. However, it is important to take in just a portion of each food group a day.

    Protein is a certain food group that can positively affect the body as well as be a negative.  They are the basic building blocks of life and are very important to the immune system. “Proteins do many important things for the body like: provide a source of energy, help repair cells and make new ones, regulate the body’s tissues and organs, and promote proper growth and development in children, teens, and pregnant women” (Cassata). They are in nuts, meats, and beans. At the same time, too much protein can cause dizziness, fatigue, abdominal pain, or diarrhea and be the cause for allergic reactions to occur.

    A big positive of starting a healthy diet at a young age is the habits that will form and continue till adulthood. It starts at home by making homemade meals, packing good lunches, and stocking your shelves with healthy snacks. If the whole family is involved, it will make it even easier to commit to healthy eating.

    Nutritious foods provide more energy and can prepare you to stay awake through the school day and any activities after. It is important to never starve yourself to lose weight. By eating frequent, small meals in a day, it can provide more energy and help to lose weight in a healthy way. More energy can also result by eliminating sugary drinks and replacing it by drinking a surplus amount of water.

    The biggest advantage to a healthy diet is that it can help to protect from diseases and cancers. Although it can not guarantee one that they will never be sick, it can help to stay away from illness as well as help cancer patients and those with diseases get better. It can help patients to be more active during their treatments, and have a more positive outlook on their condition. Obesity can also worsen cancer.

    The biggest downfall that people normally consider when eating healthy is the time, cost, and dedication it takes. Healthy foods do cost more at any grocery store, and the time to prepare meals can take hours longer than before. A frustrating point to some as well is how long it takes to see results. Although all of these are true, the results are so much greater. These are just barriers one would have to overcome.

    The last negative some see is that low-calorie dieting can be very harmful to the body. Many think that healthy eating is cutting out calories and cutting down on food altogether but it’s not. Low-calorie dieting can be dangerous because the body is no longer receiving all the nutrients it needs. It can cause one to pass out or feel fatigue.

    The positives clearly outweigh the negatives when discussing the subject of nutrition and healthy eating for high school students. Although it may take some time, the result could make you a better you. If nutrition can provide more energy and positivity, think about how much more people could accomplish in their day. This topic is something to consider and can benefit your health in the long run.

References

Cassata, Cathy. “What is Protein?” Everyday Health. EverydayHealth.com, 2 Feb. 2016. Web. 25

Apr. 2016.