Unit 1
An Overview of Nutrition

The human body is constantly undergoing changes that are governed by genetics, and are highly dependent on the availability of nutrients. In this unit, we define the terms “nutrition” and “nutrient,” and identify the major classes of nutrients. We also examine some of the factors that influence our food intake. Eating too little or too much can create an imbalance of nutrients and result in nutritional problems; therefore, we discuss different techniques for assessing nutritional status. Finally we identify the criteria for determining the reliability of nutrition information and its sources.

This unit consists of the three sections listed below.

• Section 1.1  The Nutrients
• Section 1.2  Assessing Nutritional Status
• Section 1.3  Appraising Nutritional Information