Definitions & Basic Concepts on Health, Nutrition and Sustainability
Dear students,In this WebQuest, you will be introduced to the fundamental concepts and definitions related to health, nutrition, and sustainability. You will learn about the various dimensions of health, the importance of proper nutrition, and how these concepts are connected to a sustainable future so to promote healthy lifestyles and proper nutrition, contributing to a more sustainable future by reducing the strain on healthcare systems, managing resources, and ensuring overall well-being for generations to come. Here is provided a first basic link among the meanings we are going to implement:Health encompasses our physical and mental state, relying heavily on nutrition, the essential building blocks we get from food. These elements, like vitamins and minerals, fuel our bodies. Sustainability enters the picture, ensuring food production practices meet our current needs without compromising environmental health or the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Before we start, we encourage you to go to the discussion on the twinspace forum and share your opinion on "What health means to you?".
Health encompasses more than just the absence of illness or disease.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This definition from WHO has not changed since 1948 and identifies the physical, mental and social dimensions of health, but still neglects the spiritual and emotional dimensions.
Could you imagine an individual's health as a tree, where each dimension of health represents a different part of the tree?
https://view.genially.com/669834282d64340000272e77/presentation-dimensions-of-health
and check the URLs:
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https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/major-themes/health-and-well-being
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https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/determinants-of-health
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https://hria.org/2023/04/03/healthequitree/ for another health tree metaphor.
In the following video, you will develop more about health dimensions and determinants of health and will identify that many factors combine together to affect the health of individuals and communities.
Quiz time!!
https://kahoot.it/challenge/05257662?challenge-id=8229141d-a9e4-4962-87e5-e3d5f2d3ea1c_1721379764133
The holistic view emphasizes that optimal health requires attention to our bodies, minds, spirit, emotions, and social environments but also on the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the person.
In fact, optimal health depends on wellness.
For more info on the dimensions of wellness, you could also check the article : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508938/.
It's time to move on to the other masic meaning of our topics and search for the definition of nutrition :
noun: nutrition
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the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.
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the branch of science that deals with nutrients and nutrition, particularly in humans.
Can you imagine the Human Body as a Machine?
The human body can be likened to a highly complex and sophisticated machine that requires the right fuel (nutrition) to function efficiently and sustainably. Just as a machine needs specific inputs to operate at optimal levels, the human body depends on proper nutrition to maintain health, energy, and overall well-being.
Here's a detailed comparison:
We could also add here the Sustainability dimension:Machine: Sustainable operation of machines involves using renewable energy sources and minimizing environmental impact through efficient designs and practices.Human Body: Sustainable health involves consuming a diet that supports long-term well-being and environmental sustainability. This includes choosing nutrient-dense foods, minimizing processed foods, and considering the ecological impact of food production. Understanding the human body as a machine underscores the importance of proper nutrition in maintaining health and efficiency. Just as machines require the right fuel and regular maintenance to function optimally, the human body depends on a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle to perform at its best and sustain long-term health. Diets that lack sufficient fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, but are high in red and processed meats, contribute to the largest global health issues. Alongside poor dietary habits, approximately 2 billion people are overweight or obese, another 2 billion suffer from nutrient deficiencies, and nearly 800 million people experience hunger due to poverty and inadequate food systems. You can develop more to the URLs: https://www.who.int/health-topics/nutrition#tab=tab_1
or/and by watching the following video:
As many regions continue to shift towards more processed and expensive food products, these health risks are likely to intensify.
Add your opinions on this statement to the following Tricider:
https://www.tricider.com/brainstorming/33gJ0YmLwqN
Sustainability enters the picture, ensuring food production practices meet our current needs without compromising environmental health or the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
“Sustainability” is still a new word, and definitions of it are unsettled. Its current use is derived from “sustainable development” as outlined in Our Common Future, which referred to managing resources to meet present needs while leaving enough for future generations. Sustainability’s many dimensions include the “triple bottom line” of environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
Watch the following video to develop more:
Maybe you are wondering if promoting healthy lifestyles and proper nutrition could contribute to a more sustainable future...
Yes!! By reducing the strain on healthcare systems, managing resources, and ensuring overall well-being for generations to come.
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Encouraging healthy eating habits and active lifestyles can lead to a reduction in chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. These conditions often result from poor dietary choices and sedentary lifestyles. By preventing these diseases, the demand for medical treatments and healthcare resources decreases, thereby reducing the financial burden on healthcare systems.
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A shift towards healthier diets that emphasize plant-based foods over resource-intensive animal products can lead to more sustainable use of natural resources. Agriculture, particularly livestock production, is a major contributor to environmental issues such as deforestation, water scarcity, and greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing the consumption of red and processed meats and increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains, we can lower the ecological footprint of food production. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights that sustainable diets can help conserve biodiversity and reduce pressure on ecosystems .
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Promoting healthy eating and active living contributes to improved quality of life and longevity. Ensuring that future generations have access to nutritious food and live in environments that support physical activity will enhance their overall well-being. Educational initiatives about nutrition and lifestyle choices can instill lifelong habits that promote health and sustainability. Moreover, healthier populations are generally more productive, contributing positively to the economy and society.
Based on all these, the following concepts were born:
The concept of "sustainable nutrition" is focused on an optimal and health-promoting diet that is culturally acceptable, easily accessible, and eco-friendly by reducing environmental costs for present and future generations.
The concept of "One Health" has been promoted since the early 2000s, with the awareness of the close links between human health, animal health and the global ecological state. It aims to promote a multidisciplinary and global approach to health issues.
Make a research, take a look on these articles:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10273244/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377320417_
Sustainable_Nutrition_and_Human_Health_as_Part_of_Sustainable_Development
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(18)30206-7/fulltext#seccestitle160
and add your opinions on the question: "Promoting healthy lifestyles and proper nutrition could contribute to a more sustainable future?" to the following padlet: