Nutrition for Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nutrition for Life - Essay Example Since man has lost touch with nature, he does not eat raw food available from it. The food that humans intake goes through a lot of processing, thus, they lose most of their nutrients. Another crucial field that is interconnected with human life is healthcare. Healthcare is one of the main reasons that death rates all around the world have decreased comparing to the ancient era. Humans have evolved a lot from the way they were during the primitive times. The advancements have made them reach new heights. However, along with such progress, comes their inability to live a healthy life. The fast paced lifestyle that everyone follows now lands them on the path of self-destruction. People nowadays are so busy with work that they do not have time to focus on their food or nutrition. They eat according to different food fads that they acknowledge in their day-to-day lives. People just read the nutritional information given behind different cartons and packets and buy according to what they assume to be healthy. They do not know what is best for them and producers take advantage of this situation sometimes giving false data about ingredients as well as nutirional qualities. Manufacturers have now come up with â€Å"functional foods, which provide a health benefit beyond what is provided by the same food in its traditional form† (Vitamins: Micronutrients with Macro Powers pg 186). These types of food products, also known as â€Å"nutraceuticals† are the new trend now. Various commercials and such other advertisements lure the people into buying these things, which have been transformed into something healthier, as per the commercial. People ponder upon the new terms related with these new products and undergo the dilemma of whether or not to buy it. In the end, that small voice inside their heads tells them that they really need â€Å"some extra vitamins, calcium fortified juices, soy milk, multivitamins† and various other â€Å"vitamin enhanced pr oducts† (Vitamins: Micronutrients with Macro Powers pg 186). When people come to know of water that has been filtered through reverse osmosis systems and undergone ozonization, they do not wait to think of another option. They think it better to drink this water than the one they get from their taps. It is only obvious how much the world is concerned with nutrition now, or else water would taste best when it comes out of a natural spring, not some UV sterilizing machine. There are various establishments and institutions that have devoted themselves to providing the best healthcare and medicine for the people. One such organization is the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), â€Å"which sets standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed and consumed worldwide† (About USP par.1). It is a non-profit institution, founded by an association of 11 physicians in 1820, who want ed to provide â€Å"a national lexicon of drug names and formulas† for the public (About USP par.1). During the time, medicines, drugs and such things were not closely administered by any authority. Patients bought medicine and consumed them according to what they thought would help. Wrong dosage and wrong intake of medicines and drugs also caused serious setbacks in the lives of people. It was not until the formation of USP that the essentiality and importance of this problem was recognized. People then were mostly illiterate and did not know how to read the information given about any product or medicine. Thus, USP played a very important role during the time and since has been catering to the needs of people regarding medicine, drugs and food. This organization follows the standards created and