Definitions

• Nutrition:

  The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth, The act or process of nourishing or being nourished
• Nutrients:

  Nutrients are molecules found in food and beverages needed by the body for energy, growth, development and reproduction. Foods contain six types of nutrients: Water, carbs, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals
• Macronutrients:

  Required in the diet in large quantities i.e. in grams.  

  Doesn’t provide energy – alcohol, provides energy – carbs, fat, protein.
• Micronutrients:

  Required in the diet in small quantities i.e. milligrams, grams.  

  Doesn’t provide energy – vitamins (A, B’s, C, D, E, K), minerals (Sodium, potassium, chloride, 

  sulphur, iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iodine, fluorine, selenium) 

  Note vitamins are organic, minerals are inorganic molecules.
• Atwater factors:

  Atwater factors used to calculate metabolizable energy when you know the amount of 

  macronutrient eaten. 

  Carbohydrate: 17 kJ/gram, Protein: 17 kJ/gram, Fat: 37 kJ/gram, Alcohol 29 kJ/gram