An average energy requirement by a healthy man is about 2500 Calories/day, if the intake of calories is less than this then food is said to be under nourished. It affects human beings in following ways:
1. Inefficient energy makes human being unable to perform work properly.
2. Body becomes susceptible to disease lack of proper nutrients.
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The affects of under nourishment on children are:
1. Body growth becomes low
2. Various abnormalities arise.
3. Mentally retartedness is seen.
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4. Hormonal disorders such as goiter is seen.
5. Delayed adulthood is observed.
6. Physical abnormality generates social inferiority complex.
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Malnourishment
Lack of healthy ingredients in diet is called as malnutrition. If the food is being eaten, has nutritional imbalance due to lack of appropriate dietary ingredients, malnutrition may take place which can bring following abnormalities:
(1) Anemia: It is caused due to lack of iron in the diet and/or inability of tissues to absorb iron from the blood.
(2) Goiter and hypothyroidism: It is caused due to deficiency of iodine in the diet.
(3) The deficiency of vitamin such as vitamin A causes Night blindness, vitamin B causes Beri-beri; vitamin C causes Scurvy, vitamin D causes Rickets etc.