II.

FUNDAMENTALS
OF NUTRITION
(The Relationship of Food and Health)

NUTRIENTS
● Chemical substances necessary for life
● FUNCTIONS:
- Provide energy
- Build and repair tissue
- Regulate body processes
● SIX CLASSES:
- Carbohydrates
- Fats (Lipids)
- Proteins
- Vitamins
- Mineral
- Water
● ORGANIC
- Contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
- Carbon found in all living things
- Example: Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and vitamins.
● INORGANIC
- In simplest form when ingested
- Function: regulate body processes
- Example: Water, minerals
CARBOHYDRATES
● Provides major sources of energy
● Examples: Cereal, grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and sugars

FATS (LIPIDS)
● Provides energy
● Highest kilocalorie value
● Source of fat: Meats, milk, cream, buter, cheese, egg yolk, oils, and nuts

PROTEINS
● Builds and repairs body tissues
● Provides energy
● Only one of the six nutrients that contains nitrogen
● Sources of protein: Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, cheese, corn, grains,
nuts, and seeds.

VITAMINS
● Organic compounds
● Regulate body processes
● Example: Vitamins A, B, C, D, and K

MINERALS
● Inorganic compounds
● Regulate body processes
● Examples: Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, Iron,
Magnesium, Zinc
WATER
● Major constituent of all living cells
● Composed of hydrogen and oxygen

THE SIX ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

ORGANIC NUTRIENTS FUNCTIONS

Carbohydrates Provide energy

Fats Provide energy

Proteins Build and repair tissues

Vitamins Regulate body processes

INORGANIC NUTRIENTS FUNCTIONS

Minerals Regulate body processes

Water Regulate body processes

CHARACTERISTIC OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS

GOOD POOR

Alert expression Apathy

Shiny hair Dull, lifeless hair

Clear complexion Greasy, blemished complexion

Good color Poor color

Bright, clear eyes Dull, red-dimmed eyes

PInk, firm gums and well-developed Red, puffy, receding gums, and
teeth missing or cavity-prone teeth

Firm abdomen Swollen abdomen

Firm, well-developed muscles Underdeveloped, flabby muscles

Well-developed bone structure Bowed legs “pigeon breast”

Normal weight for height Over- or underweight

Erect posture Slumped posture

Emotional stability Easily irritated, depresses, poor

attention span

Good stamina Easily fatigued

Seldom il Frequently ill

Healthy appetite Excessive or poor appetite

Healthy, normal sleep habits Insomnia at night, fatigued during the

day

Normal elimination Constipation or diarrhea

MALNUTRITION
● OVERNUTRITION
- Excess energy or nutrient intake
● UNDERNUTRITION
- Deficient energy or nutrient intake

Overnutrition is a larger problem in the United States than undernutrition.

RELATION OF FOOD TO HEALTH

CUMULATIVE DEFICIENCIES

● Excess nutrients over time. ● Nutrients lacking for extended

● Examples: Atherosclerosis,
obesity, hypertension,
diabetes, gallbladder disease,
some cancer
periods.
● Examples: Iron deficiency,
beriberi, scurvy, osteomalacia,
osteoporosis, rickets, goiter

DEFICIENCY DISEASES

DEFICIENCY DISEASE NUTRIENTS LACKING

Iron deficiency Iron

Iron deficiency-anemia Iron

Beriberi Thiamin

Night blindness Vitamin A

Goiter Iodine

Kwashiorkor Protein

Marasmus Deficiency of all macronutrients:

carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

Osteomalacia Calcium, Vitamin D, Phosphorus,

Magnesium, and Flouride

Osteoporosis Calcium and Vitamin D

Pellagra Niacin

Rickets Calcium and VItamin D

Scurvy VItamin C

Xerophthalmia VItamin A

NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT
● Anthropometric measurements
● Clinical examinations
● Biochemical tests