Nutrition is the term used for the scientific study of food and how it is utilized by the body. Eating the right kind and proportion of food is essential to keep us healthy. In other words, our health is dependent on our eating pattern. This leads us to the vital question- How much and what one should eat to keep healthy.
Food, refers to anything which nourishes the body. It obviously includes, solids, semi-solids and liquids which can be consumed. They help to sustain the body and keep it healthy.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Nutrition and health are closely related. Eating the required amounts and kinds of food will keep a person in good health, provided no other factors intervene. On the other hand, a poor eating pattern or eating too little or too much will result in poor health.
Nutrients are essential constituents of food that must be supplied to the body in suitable amounts. There are around 40 essential nutrients which (based on their chemical structure and properties) are placed in five categories. These are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals.
The nutrients are broadly classified as micro-nutrient and macro-nutrient. Most of the weight of the food is due to carbohydrates, proteins, fats and water. These are collectively known as macro-nutrients. Vitamins and Minerals contribute only to a small fraction of the total weight of the food, and are termed micro-nutrients. Our body requires carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water in greater quantities than vitamins and minerals. But vitamins and minerals or micro-nutrients are as essential as for the body as macro-nutrients.
Food, refers to anything which nourishes the body. It obviously includes, solids, semi-solids and liquids which can be consumed. They help to sustain the body and keep it healthy.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Nutrition and health are closely related. Eating the required amounts and kinds of food will keep a person in good health, provided no other factors intervene. On the other hand, a poor eating pattern or eating too little or too much will result in poor health.
Nutrients are essential constituents of food that must be supplied to the body in suitable amounts. There are around 40 essential nutrients which (based on their chemical structure and properties) are placed in five categories. These are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals.
The nutrients are broadly classified as micro-nutrient and macro-nutrient. Most of the weight of the food is due to carbohydrates, proteins, fats and water. These are collectively known as macro-nutrients. Vitamins and Minerals contribute only to a small fraction of the total weight of the food, and are termed micro-nutrients. Our body requires carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water in greater quantities than vitamins and minerals. But vitamins and minerals or micro-nutrients are as essential as for the body as macro-nutrients.
