Alvaro Gurumendi

INTRODUCTION TO NUTRITION

When we define Nutrition, Nutrition is the study of how the body

breaks food
down (catabolism) and how it repairs and creates cells and tissue
(anabolism). Catabolism and anabolism combined can also be referred
to as
metabolism. Nutritional science also examines how the body
responds to
food.

Nutrients are substances that allow your body to:

*make energy
*build and maintain tissues
*regulate bodily processes.

Nutrients are mainly categorized into 6 categories:

*Carbohydrates
*Proteins
*Fats

These are the macronutrients that are required in large quantities

because they make up the bulk of your diet.

*Vitamins
*Minerals

These are the micronutrients which are required in small quantities

The energy nutrients are carbohydrate, protein, and fat; the none-
energy nutrients are water, vitamins, and minerals.
You may have noticed the omission of water as a macronutrient.
People definitely need a large supply of water; however, water is a
micronutrient because it does not contain energy.

Lets first understand what a calorie is:

A calorie is a unit of energy.

Our brains, our muscles — every cell in our body — require energy to
function in its optimal state. The calorie is defined as the amount of
heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water from 0 to
1 degree Celsius (as taught in high school).

1 Gram of Carbs= 4 calories

1 Gram of Protein= 4 calories
1 Gram of Fat= 9 calories
1 Gram of Alcohol = 7 calories

This is the ‘calorie in’. Do note only the macronutrients, carbohydrates,

proteins and fats have calories whereas micronutrients like vitamins, minerals
have zero calories in them.

There is no arguing around this law and this is the absolute fundamental
when it comes to weight loss or gaining muscle.