According to Deckers (2010) food preference is stated to be a universal motive that humans possess. As humans, nutritionists encourage us to eat from a variety of foods as a means of ensuring we are consuming all the nutrients necessary to keep us in good health. However, from infancy we develop an innate food preference, in which case food nephobia (avoidance of novel foods for a preference of foods we are familiar with) can make being motivated to eat healthy a task to do. This paper is written with the focus of the brain, the structures thereof, and the functions of such structures in relation to being motivated to maintain a healthy eating diet. In addition this paper will also discuss both the intrinsic and extrinsic factors of motivation in association with eating healthy.
There are several individuals who should but do not follow a strict diet or consume foods that are healthy for that matter. Some individuals eat whatever they want whenever they want and experience a variety of health problems for doing so, whereas others are not affected at all. Eating healthy is extremely important in order for the body to function as it should. With that being said there are certain nutrients that must be consumed daily to keep the body in a healthy state. Certain nutrients such as fiber, which is considered to be an important part of our health and digestive system, lowers cholesterol and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
[...] My motivation for eating healthy then became intrinsic. Conclusion As humans there are things in our lives that we must do as a means of remaining healthy; eating healthy is one of them. The brain is a very important organ, which we rely on for every day activities we engage in. We must do everything in our power to ensure we are motivated to eat as healthy as possible to keep the brain functioning as it should. References American Heart Association Retrieved September from http:// www.americanheart.org.presnter.jhtml Deckers, L. [...]
[...] The brain is known to be an organ of behavior and the mind (The Brain: Understanding Neurobiology, 2000). Within this organ there are several structures responsible for the activities engaged by living organisms, which are necessary for us to live from day to day. The structure of the brain associated with motivating one to engage in healthy eating is the limbic system and a few of its key structures. When an individual engages in pleasurable activities, the limbic system immediately activates (The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2008). [...]
[...] Motivation and the brain Motivation and the Brain According to Deckers (2010) food preference is stated to be a universal motive that humans possess. As humans, nutritionists encourage us to eat from a variety of foods as a means of ensuring we are consuming all the nutrients necessary to keep us in good health. However, from infancy we develop an innate food preference, in which case food nephobia (avoidance of novel foods for a preference of foods we are familiar with) can make being motivated to eat healthy a task to do. [...]
[...] In addition it is also the hypothalamus, which assists in regulating hunger, thirst, pain, pleasure, and anger. In other words we often choose not to eat healthy due to lack of like in reference to the way certain foods taste. Therefore, we have stored in our long-term memory the tastes of certain foods we found to be unpleasant to taste; this makes it difficult for one to consume healthy foods. A person's feeding behaviors and memory process also can be altered by lesions and stimulation to the different parts of the limbic system. [...]
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