Chapter 1: Nutrition—Linking Food, Function, and Health

Nutrition: Linking Food, Function, and Health

What Is Nutrition?

Nutrition is the scientific study of food, including how food nourishes our bodies and influences health. It is a relatively new discipline that focuses on supporting health and preventing or treating chronic diseases.

• Definition: Nutrition is the study of food, including how food is consumed, digested, absorbed, metabolized, and how it affects health.

• Scope of Nutrition:

  • Factors that influence eating patterns

  • Recommended amounts and types of food

  • Food safety

  • The global food supply

• Nutrition Research: Focuses on supporting health and preventing/treating chronic diseases.

How Does Nutrition Contribute to Health?

Nutrition supports overall health and wellness, which encompasses physical, emotional, social, occupational, and spiritual health.

• Wellness: A multidimensional state including:

  • Physical health: Nutrition and physical activity

  • Spiritual health: Spiritual values and beliefs

  • Emotional health: Positive feelings about oneself and life

  • Social health: Family, community, and social environment

  • Occupational health: Meaningful work or vocation

Nutrition and Disease Prevention

Nutrition plays a critical role in disease prevention and health maintenance.

• Nutrient-deficiency diseases: Examples include scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) and pellagra (niacin deficiency).

• Chronic diseases associated with poor nutrition: Heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

• Other diseases influenced by nutrition: Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, some forms of cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

• Obesity: Is the primary link between poor nutrition and increased mortality.

Key Components of Wellness (from image)

• Physical health: Includes nutrition and physical activity.

• Spiritual health: Includes spiritual values and beliefs.

• Emotional health: Includes positive feelings about oneself and life.

• Social health: Includes family, community, and social environment.

• Occupational health: Includes meaningful work or vocation.

Additional info: Nutrition is foundational for all dimensions of wellness, and poor nutrition is a major risk factor for chronic diseases and premature death.