nutritional disorders
Overview of Nutrition
Introduction
Nutrition is the science of food and its relationship to health. Nutrients are chemicals in foods that are used by the body for growth, maintenance, and energy. Nutrients that cannot be synthesized by the body and thus must be derived from the diet are considered essential. They include Overview of Vitamins None Overview of Minerals None Some amino acids Some fatty acids Nutrients that the body can synthesize from other compounds, although they may also be derived from the diet, are considered nonessential. However, under certain conditions, such as illness or stress, synthesis of normally nonessential nutrients may be compromised, thus making them essential. Theseconditionally essential nutrientsmust then be supplied by the diet. Macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) are required by the body in relatively large amounts; Lack of nutrients can result in Overview of Undernutrition , which can lead to deficiency syndromes (eg, 