subject: What is nutrition? From Nutrition Made Incredibly Easy! [print this page] What is nutrition? From Nutrition Made Incredibly Easy!
What is nutrition?
Nutrition refers to the processes by which a living organism ingests, digests, absorbs, transports, uses and excretes nutrients (food and other nourishing material). Nutrition as a clinical area is primarily concerned with the properties of food that build sound bodies and promote health. More than just a pretty process Because good health and nutrition is essential for disease prevention, any person involved in health care needs a thorough knowledge of health and nutrition and the body's nutritional requirements throughout the life span. What's more, the study of nutrition must focus on health promotion.
Nutrients
For nutrition to be adequate, a person must receive certain essential nutrients carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. These nutrients must be present for proper growth and functioning; however, the body can't produce them on its own in adequate quantities, so they must be obtained through food. In addition, the digestive system must function properly to make use of these nutrients.
Each nutrient has a number of specific metabolic functions, but no nutrient works alone. Close metabolic relationships exist among all of the basic nutrients as well as with their metabolic products.
A look at nutrition
Nutrition refers to the processes by which a living organism ingests, digests, absorbs, transports, uses and excretes nutrients (food and other nourishing material). Nutrition as a clinical area is primarily concerned with the properties of food that build sound bodies and promote health.
More than just a pretty process
Because good nutrition is essential to good health and disease prevention, any person involved in health care needs a thorough knowledge of nutrition and the body's nutritional requirements throughout the life span. What's more, the study of nutrition must focus on health promotion.
Nutrients
For nutrition to be adequate, a person must receive certain essential nutrients carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. These nutrients must be present for proper growth and functioning; however, the body can't produce them on its own in adequate quantities, so they must be obtained through food. In addition, the digestive system must function properly to make use of these nutrients.
Each nutrient has a number of specific metabolic functions, but no nutrient works alone. Close metabolic relationships exist among all of the basic nutrients as well as with their metabolic products.
The non-essentials
A non-essential nutrient is one that isn't needed in the diet because it's manufactured by the body.
The nutrient breakdown dance
Nutrients can be used by the body for its immediate needs, or they can be stored for later use. The body breaks down food into simpler compounds for absorption in the stomach and intestines in two ways:
mechanical breakdown, which begins in the GI tract with chewing
chemical breakdown, which starts with salivary enzymes in the mouth and continues with acid and enzyme action through the rest of the GI tract.
The role of a lifeline
Nutrients play a vital role in maintaining health and wellness. They have several important functions:
providing energy, which can be used for vital activities or stored in the body
building and maintaining body tissue
controlling metabolic processes, such as growth, cell activity, enzyme production and temperature regulation.
