Understanding the Concept of Nutrition

Nutrition is also known as nourishment or aliment in the form of food in order to support life. The diet of an organism refers to what they eat. Many common health problems can be prevented by having a healthy diet. Dietitians are professionals who specializes human nutrition, meal planning, preparation and so on.  They are trained people to provide dietary advice in every individual in health and disease.

There are seven major classifications of nutrients they are carbohydrates, fiber, fats, protein, minerals, water and vitamins. These classes of nutrients are categorized as macronutrients are needed in relatively large amounts. Micronutrients are needed in smaller quantities. Macronutrients’ are carbohydrates, fats, fibers, water and protein while micronutrients are vitamins and minerals.

The macronutrients provide energy, which is measured in Joules or kilocalories and written with a capital C to distinguish them from gram calories. Carbohydrates and proteins provide 17 kJ (4 kcal) of energy per gram, while fats provide 37 kJ (9 kcal) per gram.  Vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water do not provide energy, but are necessary for other reasons.

Other nutrients include antioxidants and photochemical. These substances were recently discovered which have not have been yet recognized as vitamins or contribute to health but they are necessary in our bodies. Photochemical may act as antioxidant, but not all of them are antioxidants.

Antioxidants are a recent discovery. Different antioxidants are known to function in cooperative works. Some antioxidants are more effective than others at neutralizing different free radicals. Some cannot neutralize certain free radicals. When interacting with a free radical, some antioxidants produce a different free radical compound that is less dangerous or more dangerous than the previous compound. Having a variety of antioxidants allows any byproducts to be safely dealt with by more efficient antioxidants in neutralizing a free radical’s butterfly effect.

A growing area of interest is the effect upon human health of trace chemicals, collectively called photochemical. These nutrients are typically found in edible plants, especially colorful fruits and vegetables, but also other organisms including seafood, algae, and fungi. The effects of photochemical increasingly survive rigorous testing by prominent health organizations. One of the principal classes of photochemicals is polyphenol antioxidants, chemicals which are known to provide certain health benefits to the cardiovascular system and immune system. These chemicals are known to down-regulate the formation of reactive oxygen species, key chemicals in cardiovascular disease.