Public Health Nutrition

Definition

Nutrition is the science of how the body uses food. Nutrition is the science that studies the interactions between living organisms and food.

Nutrition is defined as the food we eat, air we breathe, water we drink, supplements we ingest, and all that we do that literally “feeds” or nourishes the body for its own health benefit. This includes exercise, positive thought and deepened spirituality. 

                                                        Dr. Gregory tefft, in his book “For your body only”

Nutrients

An important aspect of nutrition is the daily intake of nutrients. Nutrients consist of various chemical substances in the food that makes up each person’s diet. Many nutrients are essential for life, and an adequate amount of nutrients in the diet is necessary for providing energy, building and maintaining body organs, and for various metabolic processes.

 

Types of Nutrients 

 

There are six major classes of nutrients found in food:

1. Carbohydrates,

2. Proteins,

3. Lipids (fats and oils),

4. Vitamins (both fat-soluble and water-soluble),

5. Minerals, and

6. Water