Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

Nutrition and Health
WHAT IS NUTRITION?
Simply put, food is the plants and animals that we eat, and nutrition is how food affects
the health of the body. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “Food is
essential—it provides vital nutrients for survival, and helps the body function and stay
healthy. Food is comprised of macronutrients including protein, carbohydrate and fat that
not only offer calories to fuel the body and give it energy but play specific roles in
maintaining health. Food also supplies micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and
phytochemicals that don’t provide calories but serve a variety of critical functions to ensure
the body operates optimally.” 1 (Phytochemicals
are compounds found in plants that give
them their smell, taste, and color. They are not technically nutrients, but many have been
shown to affect human health.)
The study of nutrition goes beyond just a discussion of food and the nutrients needed by
the body. It includes how those nutrients are digested, absorbed, and used by the cells of
the body. It examines how food provides energy for daily activities and how our food intake
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