What is nutrition, and why does it matter?

Nutrition is the study of nutrients in food, how the body uses them, and the

relationship between diet, health, and disease.

Nutritionists use ideas from molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics to

understand how nutrients affect the human body.

Nutrition also focuses on how people can use dietary choices to reduce the risk of
disease, what happens if a person has too much or too little of a nutrient, and how
allergies work.

Macronutrients

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Macronutrients are nutrients that people need in relatively large quantities.

Carbohydrates

Sugar, starch, and fiber are types of carbohydrates.

Proteins

Proteins consist of amino acids, which are organic compounds that occur naturally.

There are 20 amino acids. Some of these are essential, which means people need to
obtain them from food. The body can make the others.

Fats

Fats are essential for:

 lubricating joints
 helping organs produce hormones
 enabling the body to absorb certain vitamins
 reducing inflammation
 preserving brain health

Too much fat can lead to obesity, high cholesterol, liver disease, and other health
problems.

Water

The adult human body is up to 60% water, and it needs water for many processes.
Water contains no calories, and it does not provide energy.
Many people recommend consuming 2 liters, or 8 glasses, of water a day, but it
can also come from dietary sources, such as fruit and vegetables. Adequate
hydration will result in pale yellow urine.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients are essential in small amounts. They include vitamins and minerals.
Manufacturers sometimes add these to foods. Examples include fortified cereals
and rice.

Minerals

The body needs carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

It also needs dietary minerals, such as iron, potassium, and so on.

Potassium- Sodium- Calcium –Phosphorus- Magnesium –Zinc- Iron-

Manganese –Copper- Selenium

Vitamins

Eating a variety of healthful foods can provide the body with different vitamins.

People need small amounts of various vitamins. Some of these, such as vitamin C,
are also antioxidants. This means they help protect cells from damage by removing
toxic molecules, known as free radicals, from the body.