SECTION 1: Fundamentals of Nutrition

• The six classes of nutrients are carbohydrates (CHO), fats (lipids), proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.
• The body can make small amounts of some nutrients, but most must be obtained from food in order to meet the body’s needs.
• Nutrients are chemical substances that are necessary for life.
• Nutrients are divided into six classes: carbohydrates (CHO), fats (lipids), proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.
• Nutrients are divided into two categories: organic and inorganic.
• Organic nutrients contain hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon.
• Before the body can use organic nutrients, it must break them down into their smallest components.
• With sound knowledge of nutrition, the health professional will be an effective health care provider and will also be helpful to family, friends, and self.
• The best way to determine deficiencies is to do a nutrition assessment.
• Good nutrition is normally reflected by good health.
• These nutrients provide the body with energy, build and repair body tissue, and regulate body processes.
• Poor nutrition habits contribute to atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, obesity, and some cancers.
• To be well nourished, one must eat foods that contain the six essential nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and water.
• Poor nutrition can result in poor health and even in disease.
• Nutrition is directly related to health, and its effects are cumulative.
• When there is a severe lack of specific nutrients, deficiency diseases may develop.
• Inorganic nutrients are already in their simplest forms when the body ingests them, except for water.
• Nutritious foods or beverages contain substantial amounts of essential nutrients.
• Respiration is breathing.
• Elimination is the evacuation of wastes.
• Nourishing foods or beverages provide substantial amounts of essential nutrients.
• One’s physical condition as determined by the diet is called nutritional status.
• Digestion is the breakdown of food in the body in preparation for absorption.
• Minerals are one of many inorganic substances essential to life and classified generally as minerals.
• Nutrition also can affect the body’s ability to resist disease, the length of one’s life, and the state of one’s physical and mental well-being.
• Water is the major constituent of all living cells, composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
• Proteins are the only one of the six essential nutrient classes containing nitrogen.
• Circulation is the body process whereby the blood is moved throughout the body.
• These processes include digestion, absorption, and metabolism.
• Nutrition is the result of the processes whereby the body takes in and uses food for growth, development, and the maintenance of health.
• Vitamins are organic substances necessary for life, although they do not, independently, provide energy.
• Nutrition helps determine the height and weight of an individual.
• Carbohydrates are the nutrient class providing the major source of energy in the average diet.
• Fats (lipids) are the highest calorie-value nutrient class.
• Children who are encouraged to, or have been made to, eat everything on their plates may feel compelled to finish their supersized meals, easily contributing to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
• Nutrient density is the nutrient value of foods compared with the number of calories.
• Peer pressure is the pressure of one’s friends and colleagues of the same age.
• Nutrient deficiencies can result in malnutrition.
• A nutrient deficiency occurs when a person lacks one or more nutrients over a period of time.
• Good nutrition enhances appearance and is commonly exemplified by shiny hair, clear skin, clear eyes, erect posture, alert expressions, and firm flesh on well-developed bone structures.