nutrition
the study of nutrients and other biologically active components in foods and in the body
diet
foods (including beverages) a person usually eats and drinks
classes of nutrients
essential nutrients
nutrients that the body cannot make or the body cannot make sufficient quantities of so we need to get those nutrients from food
what do the best kinds of foods do
support growth and maintenance of the body
- strong muscles and bones, healthy skin, etc.
malnutrition
any condition caused by…
1. excess or deficient food energy or nutrient intake
2. imbalance of nutrients
malnutrition categories
undernutrition
nutrient or energy deficiencies
overnutrition
nutrient or energy excesses
2 lifestyle habits that influence long-term health more than diet
four leading causes of death in Canada
what influences the risk of developing chronic diseases?
genetics and nutrition and disease
nutritional genomics (molecular nutrition/nutrigenomics)
science of how nutrients affect the activity of genes and how genes affect the activity of nutrients
what does nutrition genomics do?
helps determine an individual’s specific nutrient needs for health, fighting disease, etc.
- helps us know what diet is right for you
factors affecting health
what is energy?
the capacity to do work
- body requires it to move
where does energy come from?
indirectly from the sun via plants
- eat plants
- eat animals that eat plants
what is food energy measured in?
calories (kcals)
is alcohol a nutrient?
NO - interfere with body processes
- provides energy (7 kcal/gram)
macronutrients
required in relatively large amounts per day (grams/day)
- carbs, proteins, fat and water (water is needed in LARGER amounts)
micronutrients
required in small amounts per day (milligrams or micrograms/day)
- vitamins and minerals
essential nutrients example
nutrients a person must obtain from food because sufficient amounts cannot be made by the body
- ex. vitamin D
inorganic nutrients
nutrients that contain no carbon
- water and minerals
- elements on the periodic table