Lifestyle, nutrition and environmental factors influencing health benefits

Food is the plants and animals we consume, and nutrition is the way in which food influences bodily wellness. Food is one of the fundamental necessities of existence according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Food includes nutrients, which are substances necessary for the regulation of vital processes as well as the development, repair, and maintenance of body tissues. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of full physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of illness or infirmity” and acknowledges nutrition as a critical component of both health and development. The WHO notes that better nutrition is associated with improved infant, child, and maternal health, stronger immune systems, a decreased risk of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and greater productivity, opening up opportunities to break cycles of poverty and hunger. Malnutrition, which includes both under- and over-nutrition, poses a serious risk to human health. In particular, undernutrition in young children under the age of five is a worldwide public health issue, with South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa bearing the heaviest burden.