What is health and primary healthcare for all

Health can be defined in many ways, depending on who is using the data or how the data is used.
It can relate to the biological causes of health and ill health or it can focus upon the rates of
death or morbidity, the rates of disease, disability and mortality or, finally, to life expectancy. It
can also concern social and emotional wellbeing, as these in turn relate to quality of life.

So it depends on who we are and what our interest in health is as to how we see it. For this
reason there are many aspects to the concept of health. However, health is usually thought of as
not only the absence of disease but also the presence of complete physical, mental and social
wellbeing.

 What is Health
 The capacity to adapt to conditions within the environment with the ability to adapt to
pressures.

Freedom form pain, discomfort or disease, sufficient energy and effective body systems
providing the ability to respond to stimuli in the environment.

The capacity to adapt to conditions within the environment with the ability to adapt to pressures.

The ability and freedom to work in a safe productive environment

Macronutrients
Nutrients are environmental substances used for energy, growth, and bodily functions by
organisms. Depending on the nutrient, these substances are needed in small amounts or larger
amounts. Those that are needed in large amounts are called macronutrients.
Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates include the monosaccharides and disaccharides (sugars) and the

polysaccharides (starches and complex carbohydrates, including dietary fiber).

Functions in the body

Glucose from starches and sugars is the main source of energy for body cells and is more
efficiently used than the energy available from fat and protein. Glucose is the energy source
required by the central nervous system. Carbohydrates have a protein sparing effect, allowing the
protein to be used for tissue growth. Dietary fiber is important in maintaining the health of the
gastro-intestinal tract.

Deficiency
Because carbohydrates are the most basic of our food requirements, deficiencies are seen only
in cases of starvation.

Excess intake
Excess intake is more common. The carbohydrates are changed to fat, leading to an increase in
body fat, excess weight, and obesity. Constantly high intakes of sugar may lead to dental caries.
 Main food sources
The cereal grains (wheat, rice, corn and oats) are used to make bread and breakfast cereals,
pasta and rice dishes. Vegetables, especially root vegetables such as potatoes, are a good
source of starch. Sugars are found naturally in fruits.
 Fats or lipids
 Functions in the body

Fats are a very concentrated source of energy and are the form in which energy is stored in the
body. Fats provide the essential fatty acids, linoleic, an omega-6 fatty acid and linolenic, an
omega-3 fatty acid. Recent research has indicated a need for those in the Western world to
increase their intake of these to improve cardiovascular health, and they appear to have some
role in improving brain development in infants. 

These essential fatty acids assist in the absorption and transport of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D
and E. Subcutaneous fat gives the body its soft curves or shape and insulates the body, assisting
in the maintenance of body temperature.