Portage Learning/BIOD 121 Nutrition module 1Exam Study guide Graded A

What You Eat & Why Good nutrition leads to a healthy life. What is Nutrition? Nutrition compared to other sciences is a fairly young science. New discoveries are constantly being made and scientists and nutritionists are always evaluating ways in which nutrition impacts our lives. To begin we need to understand what nutrition is. Nutrition by definition is the science that links foods to health and disease. It includes the processes by which humans ingest, digest, absorb, transport and excrete food substances. Nutrition spans all ages and impacts our well- being from conception to death. Good nutrition as well as exercise is the key to good health. When evaluating one’s health, there are actually five dimensions that can be evaluated, including physical health, intellectual health, emotional health, social health and spiritual health. Physical Health - ability of the body to perform daily functions for survival Intellectual Health - the cognitive ability to learn and adapt Emotional Health - the ability to express or suppress emotion Social Health - ability to interact with others Spiritual Health - purpose for human existence, cultural practices Making good food choices and eating a variety of nutrients daily can contribute to a healthy life style. What is the difference between food and nutrients? Food provides energy in terms of calories, nutrients are substances found in food that provide the materials for building and maintaining body parts, regulators for key metabolic processes and participate in metabolic reactions that provide energy to sustain life. The science of nutrition provides the information consumers need to make wise food choices, evaluate the amounts of nutrients required daily for one’s particular age and lifestyle, and make choices that may reduce our risk of disease and contribute to longevity. Americans today have a much longer life expectancy than our parents or grandparents. Making wise food choices to prevent disease throughout our lives is more important today than ever before.