BackIntroduction to Nutrition and Essential Nutrients
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Introduction to Nutrition
Definition and Importance
Nutrition is the science of how nutrients sustain biological functions and overall health. It involves understanding the substances found in food that are necessary for energy, growth, and maintenance of the body.
Essential Nutrients: Substances found in food that are required for energy, growth, and maintenance.
Most essential nutrients must be consumed because the body cannot synthesize them in sufficient quantities.
Calorie: A unit of measurement for energy from food.
1 Calorie = amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.
Classes of Essential Nutrients
Macronutrients and Micronutrients
Essential nutrients are divided into two main categories based on the amount required by the body:
Macronutrients: Needed in large amounts; provide energy and are measured in calories.
Micronutrients: Needed in small amounts; do not provide energy but are vital for health.
Essential Nutrient Classes Table
Category | Type | Examples | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
Macronutrients | Carbohydrates | Starch, sugar, fiber | Provide energy |
Macronutrients | Proteins | Meat, beans, nuts | Build and repair tissues |
Macronutrients | Fats | Oils, butter | Store energy, support cell function |
Micronutrients | Vitamins | Vitamin C, Vitamin D | Regulate body processes |
Micronutrients | Minerals | Calcium, iron | Support bone health, oxygen transport |
Other | Water | Water | Hydration, chemical reactions |
Key Points
Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins provide our bodies with energy.
Human bodies synthesize some essential macronutrients, but many must be obtained from food.
Water is considered an essential nutrient class, even though it does not provide energy.
Micronutrients do not provide energy but are necessary for proper body function.
Example
Which of the following is true about nutrition?
Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins provide our bodies with energy.
Water is a macronutrient because it is needed in large amounts, but it does not provide energy.
