Author: Zac Ch’ng, Nutritionist

Nutrition is essential for an organism for maintenance of life, growth, and reproduction.  There are 7 major nutrients: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, water, and fiber which are required by the body to perform their physiological functions.  Human kind does not produce nutrients, hence they must be obtained from food and proper nutrition is the key to sustain life and promote health.

However, nutrient intake is influenced by factors such as food processing, diet pattern, nutritive value in food, and different needs across human lifespan.

Food Processing

Almost all food is processed in some way before it is eaten. Processed food is defined as one that has undergone many changes to its natural state—including washing, cleaning, milling, cutting, chopping, heating, pasteurizing, blanching, cooking, canning, freezing, etc that alter the food from its natural state. Besides, it also includes the process of addition of other ingredients such as preservatives, flavors, and other food additives. Commercially, the main reason to process food is to eliminate micro-organisms that may cause disease. Unfortunately, the nutritive value of food is altered by the processing.  E.g. Water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin B-group and vitamin C are more unstable during food processing and storage, especially at high temperatures.

Diet Pattern

A balanced diet should contain proper balance of nutrients. Fruits and vegetables usually lack in the diet. According to the 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables recommended by the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines, only 1 in 10 Malaysians consumes enough. This shows that most Malaysians still not practicing a balanced diet and might be lacking fiber, vitamins, and minerals in their daily diet. Studies have shown that high intake may have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Nutritive Value in Food

Crops grown decades ago are more nutritious. Today, modern intensive agricultural methods have stripped significant amounts of nutrients from the soil, each successive generation of fast-growing, pest-resistant plant is less nutritive, their ability to uptake nutrients has not kept pace with their rapid growth. Thus, declines in nutrients such as magnesium, zinc and vitamins A, B-6, C, and E are a norm.

Different Needs Across The Lifespan

We are harder to get adequate nutrition as we age. This may be due to a few factors such changing in taste buds and gastrointestinal system, dentition, loss of smell, etc. Taste buds decrease by aging and loss of smell makes food less appealing and can lead to poor food choices.  Gastrointestinal changes such as constipation and gas bloating may cause older people to avoid fruits and vegetables.  Besides, the decline in function such as the mechanical disintegration of food, gastrointestinal motor function, food transit, chemical food digestion, and functionality of the intestinal wall progressively decreases the ability to provide the aging organism with adequate levels of nutrients.

In conclusion, combining the research results of modern science and nutrition tells us that the nutrients in the diet are the most important factor affecting human health. However, imbalanced diet, food processing, reduced nutritional value in food, and aging which influences nutrient intake are the current challenges. Experts suggested that if people cannot get enough nutrition from their diet, they should take the supplement to meet nutrient requirements and to prolong life.