NUTRITION
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It is all the interaction between people and the food they eat.
It is also about understanding
o which nutrients the body need
o what kind of food contains them
o how the human body uses them
o and the impact they have on human health.
Lastly, it also involves sociological, cultural, economic and technological factors
and the role they play in obtaining and choosing the food we eat.
HUMAN DON’T EAT INDIVIDUAL NUTRIENTS, they eat FOOD.
Food provides the body energy and nutrients; it also contains chemical found in plants.
Chemicals found in plants are called phytochemicals. They are not considered as
nutrients, but they do have health-promoting properties.
We need to consume these essential nutrients because our body cannot make them,
or they cannot make them in large amounts for optimal health.
Different food contains different nutrients that varies in amount and combination.
Fortification – adding nutrients to food to replace losses during cooking and processing
or to supplement the diet.
Dietary supplements are also sources of nutrients. Although people still meet them
nutrient needs supplements can be useful for maintaining health and prevent
deficiencies.
WHAT DO NUTRIENTS DO?
Nutrients provide three basic functions:
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Some provide energy
Some provide structure
And help regulate the processes that keep us alive