1. The Basics of Nutrition
Chapter 1

2. Quiz Yourself True or False
There are four classes of nutrients: proteins, lipids, sugars, and vitamins. T F
Proteins are the most essential class of nutrients. T F
All nutrients must be supplied by the diet, because they cannot be made by the body.
T F
Vitamins are a source of energy. T F
Milk, carrots, and bananas are examples of “perfect foods” that contain all nutrients. T F

3. How Did You Do?
False There are six classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.
False Proteins are not the most essential class of nutrients.
False All nutrients do not need to be supplied by the diet, because some can be made by the body.
False Vitamins are not a source of energy.
False Milk, carrots, and bananas are not “perfect foods.” No naturally-occurring food supplies all nutrients.

4. What Influences Your Eating Habits?

5. Why Should You Care About Your Diet?
Poor diet is associated with 4 of 10 leading causes of death including:
-Heart disease
-Some types of cancer
-Stroke
-Type 2 diabetes
Adequate diet plus regular exercise may reduce your chances of developing these serious chronic diseases.

6. Nutrition: The Basics Key Terms
Diet
Usual pattern of food choices
Nutrients
Life-sustaining substances in food
Nutrition
Scientific study of nutrients and how the body uses them

7. Nutrition: The Basics Key Terms (cont.)
Chemistry
Study of the composition and characteristics of matter and the changes that can occur to it
Cell
Smallest functioning unit in a living organism

8. Nutrition: The Basics Key Terms (cont.)
Metabolism
Chemical processes that take place in living cells
Essential nutrient
Nutrient that must be supplied by food
Deficiency disease
State of health that occurs when a nutrient is missing from the diet 8

9. Six Classes of Nutrients
Carbohydrates
Lipids (includes fat)
Proteins
Vitamins
Minerals
Water

10. Note approximate percentages of nutrients in young male and female bodies. Vitamins are not included, because they are in very small amounts.

11. Major Functions of Nutrients in the Body

12. What Is an Essential Nutrient?
must be supplied by food
is not synthesized by the body or made in amounts that meet the body’s needs

13. Three Key Features of Essential Nutrients
If missing from diet, a deficiency disease results.
Adding missing nutrient back to diet corrects signs and symptoms of the deficiency.
Scientists can explain why lack of the nutrient caused abnormalities.

14. 14

15. What Are Phytochemicals?
Substances found in plant foods that are not classified as “nutrients” but are beneficial to health.
Plants make hundreds of phytochemicals.

16. Phytochemicals of Scientific Interest

17. What Lifestyle?
Lifestyle is a person’s way of living such as dietary practices, physical activity habits, and use of drugs.
Lifestyle choices may increase or reduce chances of developing a disease or delay its occurrence for years. 17

18. Early Death Possible Diseases Heart disease, certain cancers,
Lifestyle Choices
High fat diet + inactivity
Risk Factor
Obesity (excess body fat)
Possible Diseases
Heart disease, certain cancers,
type 2 diabetes, and hypertension
Early Death

19. Changes in Beverage Consumption

20. Metrics for Nutrition
Units of scientific measurement often used in nutrition
 Length measured in meters
 Weight measured in grams
 Volume measured in liters 20

21. Common Metric Prefixes in Nutrition

22. Metric Basics Conversions 1 inch = 2.5 cm 1 ounce = 28 g
1 pound = 454 g
2.2 pounds = 1 kg
Do the Math 
If you are 5’5” (65”) (65 x 2.5 = cm)
If you weigh 130 lbs
(130 ÷ 2.2 = approx kg)

23. What’s a Calorie? Kilocalorie or Calorie — measure of food energy
A kilocalorie is the heat energy needed to raise the temperature of 1000 g of water 1o Celsius.
1 kilocalorie = 1 Calorie = 1000 calories
(Kilocalorie is abbreviated as “kcal”)

24. Primary Energy Sources for the Body

25. Macronutrients and Micronutrients
-Needed in relatively large amounts
-Provide energy
Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats
Micronutrients
-Needed in very small amounts
-Do not provide energy
Vitamins and minerals
Water: Required in large amounts but not a “macronutrient,” because it does not provide energy (calories)

26. Concept 1: Most Naturally Occurring Foods are Mixtures of Nutrients.
A 6-oz potato contains:
4 g protein, 36 g carbohydrate
<1 g fat, plus water, vitamins, and minerals
8 fluid oz fat-free milk contains:
8 g protein, 12 g carbohydrate,
1 g fat, plus water, vitamins, and minerals

27. Factors that Contribute to Undernutrition

28. Undernutrition During Life Cycle Stages
- Pregnancy
- Infancy
- Preschool years

29. Undernutrition in the United States
Contributing factors:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Alcoholism
- Low income
Food insecurity:
- Defined as a concern about running out of food or not having enough money to buy more food.
- Reported in 11% of U.S. households in 2007

30. Major Federally Subsidized Food Programs in the U.S.

31. World Food Crisis: Finding Solutions
The Promise of
Biotechnology
Modifying living things (especially plants and animals) to make improved products
Genetic Modification
Techniques that alter an organism’s DNA