NUTR Ch 1: Food Choices & Human Health

nutrition

the science of how food nourishes the body

malnutrition

deficiencies, imbalance, and excesses of nutrients

anemia

a lower than average number of healthy red blood cells

human genome

complete set of genetic information in an organism

ways the body requires energy

1. indirectly from the sun

2. eating plant-derived foods

3. eating animals that eat plants

nutrients

families of molecules indispensable to the body’s functioning

macronutrients

carbs + fats + proteins

protein has double duty

yields energy but also provides materials that form structures and working parts of body tissues

micronutrients

do not yield energy

regulate body processes

estimated energy requirements (EER)

2000 calories average

set of healthy ranges for intake

carbs - 45-65%

fats - 20-35%

protein - 10-35%

dietary reference intakes (DRIs)

set of scientifically developed reference values for nutrients

recommended dietary allowance (RDA)

average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of healthy individuals in certain gender and life stage

estimated average requirement (EAR)

median daily intake level that is estimated to satisfy just over half the population’s daily nutrient needs

functional foods

whole or modified foods that contain bioactive food components are believed to provide health benefits beyond nutrition

fortified foods

additional nutrients added (nutrients that were not originally present)

enriched foods

adding nutrients that were lost during food processing

enhanced foods

food formulated with known bioactive food components

antioxidants

compounds that protect other compounds from damaging reactions involving oxygen by themselves reacting with oxygen

bioactive food components

compounds in foods, either nutrients or phytochemicals, that alter physiological processes

drug

any substance that, when taken into a living organism, may modify one or more of its functions

nutraceutical

a term sometimes used to refer to foods, nutrients, or dietary supplements believed to have medicinal effects