Lifestyle

Lifestyle Analysis and Evaluation

Lifestyle Analysis and Evaluation

Introduction

It is very important that for a healthy lifestyle, people make the right choices with regards to what they eat, and how much they eat. A balanced diet is necessary for an individual, in order to keep healthy and fit, and to lead a life which would be free from health and other issues. Food intake should always be in balanced amounts, and it must be complemented by physical activity, depending usually on the age and gender of an individual. Physical activity, such as exercise and walk, are essential for an individual, especially for adults, since it keeps a person active and prevents one from being lethargic and feeling low.

Although a healthy balanced diet is usually good enough to meet the requirements of most people, however, there are some groups of people who many need other supplements in order to stay health; they include:

Pregnant women, and those trying to have children should take folic acid daily; pregnant and breast-feeding women should also take vitamin D supplements

Children under the age of five, with bad eating habits may require vitamin A, D and C supplements.

Asian origin customers should try to take vitamin D supplements every day, especially those who usually remain indoors, wear clothes which cover up the entire skin or consume no meat or fish whatsoever.

It is recommended by the government of the United Kingdom that healthy individuals should take a diet which contains the following:

Foods containing starch; for instance bread, rice, potatoes and pasta (preferably wholegrain varieties whenever possible)

Lots of vegetables and fruit, by consuming 5 portions of different varieties of fruits and vegetables

Foods rich in protein such as meat, eggs, fish and alternative sources such as nuts and pulses, should be consumed in moderate amounts

Milk and other dairy products should be consumed in moderate amounts, while preference should be given to low-fat dairy products, or taking full-fat dairy products in small quantities or consuming them less frequently

The fat, salt and sugar to be consumed should be less saturated

Discussion

Case study

Sarah, who is a 30 year old mother of two, has been overweight throughout her life as a result of bad eating habits, and the wrong choices she makes in terms of the food she consumes. Furthermore, it is very important to understand the root cause of her lethargy, and to address the issues which she may face in the near future, due to her bad eating habits. Since she has been brought up on a typical British diet consisting of meat, potatoes and very little vegetables and fruit, it means she is prone to infections and various diseases. Her unhealthy eating habits have contributed quite significantly, to the physical condition she finds herself in. Therefore, she feels lethargic and is incapable of doing most things when she returns home from work. Moreover, this could lead to multiple problems for Sarah, since she has a family heart and diabetes (Level 2) history.

Diet analysis of the case study

A typical ...