Nutrition is defined as the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and utilizes food substances. It looks at the physiological and biochemical processes involved in nourishment and how substances in food provide energy or are converted into body tissues. These nutrients, which are the source of energy for our bodies, are classified as: carbohydrates, fats, fibre, minerals, proteins, vitamins and water. Good nutrition means obtaining the right amount of nutrients from healthy foods in the right combinations. An important part of the study of nutrition is looking at diseases that can result from malnutrition and the role that food plays in the development of chronic disease.
Poor nutrition can lead to a lack of energy, digestive problems, food allergies, weight gain, depression and anxiety as well as many prevalent chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Having nutritional knowledge and making informed choices about the foods you eat can help people achieve optimum health over their lifetime.
There is almost daily advice in the media on what to eat and what not to eat and most of it is confusing and contradictory. Nutrition scientists keep changing their minds which leads people to doubt nutrition and health recommendations.
We decided to make this interactive resource as an easy tool for anyone to learn about the basics of nutrition. Since eating food is central to the human experience, we believe that everyone should have a basic understanding of what they are eating and how it affects their wellbeing. We have broken the topic of nutrition into background knowledge of the biochemistry and health recommendations as well as applicable skills such as reading food labels and meal planning. We hope that everyone from the ages of 12 and up can use this resource to learn and make healthier food choices.