GENERAL TERMS RELATED TO HEALTH AND NUTRITION

 Some general terms related to HEALTH AND NUTRITION

 
NUTRITION - it is defined as ' the science of foods, the nutrients and other substance therein; their action, interaction and balance with health and diseases. It can be understood as ' the process by which the organisms ingests, digests, absorbs, transports and utilize nutrients and disposes of their end products'. 

NUTRIENTS - Nutrients are constituents in the food that must be supplied to the body in suitable amounts. these include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins, and water. depending on the amount of the nutrients present in our bodies and hence the amount required in the daily diet, nutrients are classified as macro and micronutrients.

MACRO-NUTRIENTS- these are those nutrients that our body require in relatively large amount like carbohydrates, protein, and fats. 

MICRONUTRIENTS - these are those nutrients required for a small amount like vitamins and minerals. 

MACROMINERALS- these are those nutrients that our body requires in quantities greater than 100mg /day. 
TRACE -MINERALS - These are those nutrients that our body requires in quantities smaller than 100mg/day. 

NUTRITIONAL STATUS - It is the condition of health of the individual, as influenced by the utilization of nutrients. Nutritional status can be assessed by looking at the medical history of the individual, the disease he/she is suffering from, and the kind and amounts of different foods he/she has been consuming habitually. 
MALNUTRITION - it is the pathological state resulting from a relative or absolute deficiency or excess of one or more essential nutrients. Malnutrition can be four types: Overnutrition, Undernutrition, Imbalance of nutrients, Specific Nutrient Deficiency. 

OVERNUTRITION - it is the pathological state resulting from the composition of an excessive quantity of food over an extended period of time, for example, obesity results from excessive consumption of energy. 
UNDERNUTRITION - it is the condition that results when insufficient food is eaten for an extended period of time, for example, Protein Energy Malnutrition. 
IMBALANCE OF NUTRIENTS  - It is the pathological state resulting from a disproportion among essential nutrients, with or without the absolute deficiency of any nutrients, for example, an imbalance of amino acid in the body. 
SPECIFIC NUTRIENTS DEFICIENCY - it is also a pathological state resulting from relative or absolute lack of individual nutrients, for example, anemia resulting from iron deficiency. 

These are all common term related to health and nutrition

 " GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF NUTRITION LEADS TO  GOOD SELECTION OF FOOD "