Nutrition Basics: An Active Approach

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to the basics of nutrition and its impact on health, providing a comprehensive review for the upcoming exam.

Nutrition

The sum of all processes involved in how organisms obtain nutrients, metabolize them, and use them to support life.

Nutritional Science

The investigation of how an organism is nourished and how nourishment affects personal, population, and planetary health.

Health

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Disease

Any abnormal condition that affects the health of an organism, characterized by specific signs and symptoms.

Health Promotion

Activities and habits, such as physical activity and a healthy diet, that assist in promoting overall health.

Disease Prevention

Activities and habits, such as a healthy diet and exercise, that assist in preventing disease.

Macronutrients

Nutrients required in large amounts, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and water.

Micronutrients

Nutrients needed in smaller amounts, including vitamins and minerals.

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as energy sources.

Lipids

A family of organic compounds that are insoluble in water and includes triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols.

Proteins

Macromolecules composed of amino acids that play critical roles in bodily functions.

Amino Acids

Simple monomers that make up proteins, containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Nutrition Facts Label

A label that provides information about the nutrients contained in food products, emphasizing calorie count.

Calorie

A unit of measurement of food energy; the amount of energy provided by food.

Vitamins

Organic compounds that are either water-soluble or fat-soluble and act as enzymes or coenzymes.

Water-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins that dissolve in water and are not stored in large amounts in the body.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins that dissolve in fat and are stored in the body's fatty tissues.

Minerals

Solid inorganic substances required for various bodily functions, classified as trace or macro.

Nutrient Density

A measure of the amount of essential nutrients a food contains relative to the amount of energy it has.

Epidemiological Studies

Scientific investigations that define frequency, distribution, and patterns of health events in populations.

Randomized Clinical Trials

Scientific investigations where a variable is changed between groups to test health-related hypotheses.

Nutrigenomics

The study of how nutrients affect gene expression and how genes affect nutritional requirements.

Epigenetics

The study of how non-gene factors affect gene expression.

Socioeconomic Status

A measure of a person's or group's social standing, often indicated by income, occupation, and education.

Lifestyle Factors

Components such as dietary habits, physical activity, and sleeping patterns that impact health.

Sustainable Food System

A system that meets the current generation's needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs.

Food Security

Access to enough nutritious food for all members of a household at all times.

Food Insecurity

The state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

Nutritional Guidelines

Recommendations designed to improve health and prevent disease based on scientific evidence.

Personal Health Assessment

An evaluation of one's health status through physical exams, diet, and lifestyle review.

Goal Setting

The process of identifying specific goals to adopt or improve health and nutrition-related practices.

Environmental Determinants

Factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and socio-economic status that affect food choices and health.

Community-based Farmers' Market

A market where local farmers sell their produce directly to consumers.

Nutritional Fact Labels

Displays required by law that inform consumers about the nutritional contents of a food item.

Advertising in Food Choices

The influence of media marketing strategies on consumer preferences and eating habits.

Health Concerns in Nutrition

Issues such as food allergies or intolerances that affect dietary choices.

Sustainable Farming Methods

Agricultural practices that protect the environment and enhance the health of local communities.