4.3 KiB
Nutrients are the life sustaining substances found in food.
- Necessary for growth, maintenance, and repair.
There are 6 nutrients:
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Carbs
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Water
A macronutrient is a nutrient the body requires in large quantities, whereas a micronutrient is a nutrient the body requires in small quantities.
| Macronutrients | Micronutrients |
|---|---|
| Carbs | Vitamins |
| Lipids | Minerals |
| Proteins |
Nutrients are used for:
- Growth and development
- Energy
- Regulation of processes
Essential Nutrients
A nutrient is classified as essential if:
- It must be supplied by food, because the body cannot create it in sufficient quantities
- If the nutrient is missing, it results in a deficiency disease
- When added back to the diet, the disease corrects
- Explanation exists as to why the abnormalities occurred when the substance was missing.
Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals are substances in plants that may have healthful benefits. Examples of phytochemicals include:
- Caffeine
- Beta-carotene
- Nicotine
Calories
In nutrition, the term Calorie typically refers to a kilocalorie, or 1000 calories, where a calorie is the amount of energy needed to heat up one gram of water one degree Celsius.
Kilocalories are used to measure the amount of energy that can be gained from food.
| Food | Energy Gained |
|---|---|
| 1 gram of carbs | 4 kcal |
| 1 gram of protein | 4kcal |
| 1 gram of fat | 9kcal |
| 1 gram of alcohol | 7kcal |
| No other nutrients provide energy. |
Chronic Disease
Chronic disease takes years to develop and typically have no discrete source. Examples of chronic disease include:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
Eating Habits
Biological and physiological factors influence eating habits. Examples of factors include (but are not limited to):
- Age
- Taste, smell, texture
- Internal sensations of hunger and thirst
- Relationships
- Income
Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Nutrients | The life sustaining substances found in food. Necessary for growth, maintenance, and repair. |
| Nutrition | The study of how nutrients affect our body. |
| Diet | A person's usual pattern of food choices. Everyone has a diet, and you don't begin and end diets, you just make changes to your existing diet. |
| Lipid | Fat |
| Organic | An organic substance contains carbon, and can be degraded. |
| Essential nutrient | A nutrient is considered essential if it must be supplied by food, because the body cannot create it in sufficient quantities. If an essential nutrient is missing, it results in a deficiency disease. |
| Deficiency disease | A deficiency disease occurs when an essential nutrient is missing. Examples include anemia (iron) and scurvy (vitamin c) |
| Lifestyle | A routine way of living |