Important Facts about Nutrition

We hear the word nutrition quite often, but what does that concept really mean?

Nutrition is the science that studies how the body assimilates food and uses it for energy, to build, maintain and repair tissues. In other words, the field of nutrition tries to explain how the food we choose to eat affects our body and our health.

To do this nutrition focuses on 2 basic elements: energy and nutrients.

Energy is "the ability of a system to perform work". In order to produce energy our body needs food. The amount of energy in food is measured in kilocalories, commonly known as calories.

Every food gives you energy (calories), however, this does not mean that every food is also giving you nutrients.

Nutrients are chemical components in food that our body uses to survive and grow. Nutrients needed in large quantities are called macronutrients, while those needed in very small amounts are called micronutrients. Macronutrients include protein, fat and carbohydrates, while vitamins and minerals are considered micronutrients.

Nutrients are frequently categorized as essential and non-essential. In nutrition

essential nutrients refer to a nutrient that cannot be manufactured by the body; therefore you must obtain them from food. The non-essential nutrients are manufactured by the body.

After reading this brief explanation you can tell that the expression "you are what you eat" is actually true. The body is built from the nutrients it receives from the food we eat. Approximately 60 percent of our weight is water, 20 percent is fat and 20 percent is a combination of protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins.

It is very important to learn how to eat a balanced meal in order to get the energy and nutrients that our body needs to function properly. Many health conditions can be managed or avoided through proper nutrition. The right combination of food can be medicine for the body and the soul.