Which statement about the science of Nutrition is correct?

• A. Nutrition is generally considered to be one of the most ancient sciences.
• B. Modern nutrition is primarily concerned with eliminating specific dietary deficiencies that lead to disease.
• C. The study of nutrition includes the study of both why we eat what we do and how that food affects our health.
• D. Nutrition has been largely agreed upon and unchanging for the past 30 years.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the scope of the science of Nutrition. Nutrition is the study of how food and nutrients affect the body, including physiological processes, health outcomes, and dietary behaviors.
2. Step 2: Evaluate the first statement: 'Nutrition is generally considered to be one of the most ancient sciences.' While humans have always needed food, the formal scientific study of nutrition is relatively modern, emerging in the 19th and 20th centuries.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the second statement: 'Modern nutrition is primarily concerned with eliminating specific dietary deficiencies that lead to disease.' While addressing deficiencies (e.g., scurvy from vitamin C deficiency) was a historical focus, modern nutrition also emphasizes broader topics like chronic disease prevention, food choices, and overall health.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the third statement: 'The study of nutrition includes the study of both why we eat what we do and how that food affects our health.' This is accurate, as nutrition science encompasses both behavioral aspects (e.g., food preferences, cultural influences) and physiological impacts (e.g., nutrient metabolism, disease prevention).
5. Step 5: Evaluate the fourth statement: 'Nutrition has been largely agreed upon and unchanging for the past 30 years.' This is incorrect, as nutrition science is dynamic, with ongoing research leading to new discoveries and evolving dietary guidelines.