Nutrition

Vitamin C is found in fruit and vegetables, such as oranges, strawberries, red peppers and broccoli. Fibre is found in foods like wholegrain breakfast cereal, wholemeal bread, brown rice, vegetables, fruit, beans and lentils. Carbohydrate is found in foods like potatoes, bread, rice and pasta. Nutrition is the process of consuming, absorbing, and using nutrients needed by the body for growth, development, and maintenance of life.

  • But each food also provides a unique mix of nutrients, including iodine, iron, zinc, B12 vitamins and healthy fats.
  • Dietary fibre is a term that is used for carbohydrates found naturally in plants that reach the large intestine intact.
  • Similarly, foods marketed as “diet-friendly” or “low calorie” may be very low in calories but lack nutrients.

However, due to a shift in dietary patterns from fresh foods to processed and refined foods the island is suffering from a magnitude of health concerns. We can define a nutrient as any component of a food that, when consumed in appropriate amounts through eating, supports our physiological functioning (Hendrich et al., 1994). This can look like enhancing our ability to do the things we need to do or working to stop diseases from taking shape. Nutritional science as a separate, independent science discipline was institutionalized in the 1950s.

Stanford Introduction to Food and Health

Table salt, which is made up of sodium and chloride, is a popular condiment. However, most people consume too much sodium, as it already occurs naturally in most foods. The body breaks down some types of fiber and uses them for energ; others are metabolized by gut bacteria, while other types pass through the body. Macronutrients are nutrients that people need in relatively large quantities.

  • The harm caused by iron deficiency during child development cannot be reversed and result in reduced academic performance, poor physical work capacity, and decreased productivity in adulthood.
  • The two main sources of added sugars in the United States are sugary drinks and desserts/sweet snacks.
  • All non-alcoholic drinks count, but water, lower fat milk and lower sugar drinks, including tea and coffee, are healthier choices.
  • The essential vitamin C within citrus fruits would not be identified by scientists until 1932.
  • On the other hand, unprocessed and mildly cooked beef is healthy in moderation — especially in the context of a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.

By Sophie