Nutrition Basics: An Active Approach

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to nutrition, health, and disease prevention from the lecture notes.

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 organisms are nourished and how nourishment affects personal, population, and planetary health.

Health Promotion

Activities and habits that assist in the promotion of health, including physical activity, healthy sleep, and a healthy diet.

Disease Prevention

Activities and habits that assist in the prevention of disease.

Health

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

Disease

An abnormal condition affecting an organism's health, characterized by specific signs and symptoms.

Health Factors

Elements influencing health status, including genetics, environment, lifestyle, and economics.

Nutrient

A substance required by the body that must be obtained from the diet.

Macronutrients

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

Micronutrients

Nutrients needed in smaller amounts, such as vitamins and minerals.

Calories

A unit of measurement for food energy; one gram of carbohydrates provides four calories.

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as a primary energy source.

Lipids

Organic compounds that are insoluble in water and include triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols.

Proteins

Macromolecules composed of amino acids used for various bodily functions.

Vitamin

Non-caloric substances that act as enzymes or coenzymes, required for various bodily functions.

Minerals

Solid, inorganic substances that are essential for health, classified as macro or trace.

Nutrient Density

The amount of essential nutrients a food contains relative to its energy content.

Epidemiological Studies

Scientific investigations defining frequency, distribution, and patterns of health events in a population.

Randomized Clinical Trials

Scientific studies where a variable is changed between groups of people to observe effects.

Scientific Method

An organized process of inquiry that includes making observations, forming hypotheses, and conducting tests.

Nutrigenomics

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

Epigenetics

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

Socioeconomic Status

A measure of an individual or group's social standing, often assessed by income, occupation, and education.

Personal Health Assessment

Evaluating one's physical and psychological health through exams and health histories.

Sustainable Food System

A system that meets current food needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs.

Food Security

The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

Food Insecurity

Lack of access to enough nutritious food due to economic and social factors.

Genetics

Inherited traits that can affect health, including disease risk.

Cultural Determinants

Influences on food choice based on cultural beliefs, traditions, and practices.

Environmental Determinants

Factors in a person's environment that impact nutritional habits and overall health.

Civic Engagement

Community involvement activities, such as joining farmers' markets or advocating for sustainable practices.

Health Guidelines

Recommendations based on scientific evidence to promote health and prevent disease.

Peer Pressure

Social influence that can affect dietary choices and health behaviors.

Health Consciousness

Awareness and understanding of personal health, often leading to better food choices.

Nutritional Fact Labels

Labels displayed on food products that provide information about their nutritional content.

Long-term Health Plans

Strategies developed to maintain or improve health and nutrition over time.

Accessibility to Food

The ability of individuals to obtain healthy food in their communities.

Affordability in Nutrition

The economic ability to purchase healthy foods.

Community-Based Solutions

Local initiatives aimed at addressing food system challenges and improving nutrition.