Nutrition Overview

DEFINITIONS

Nutrition science studies the process of eating, absorption and use of nutrients needed by the body for growth, development and maintenance of life.

Nutrients are chemical substances in foods that feed the body.

Various nutrients can be made in the body. Nutrients that can not be made in the body, called essential nutrients, must be consumed in food.
These essential nutrients are:
# Amino acids (in proteins)
# Certain fatty acids (the fats and oils)
# Mineral and vitamins.
9 of 20 amino acids in proteins are essential nutrients.

If essential nutrients are not available in sufficient quantities, can occur nutrient deficiency diseases.
To determine whether a person is getting enough nutrients, required:
- Information about eating habits
- Physical examination to assess the composition (amount of fat and muscle) and the function of the body
- Other laboratory tests to measure the content of nutrients in the blood and tissues.

Mostly the nutrients are divided into 2 types namely makronutrisi and mikronutrisi.
Makronutrisi, which consists of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and some minerals, the body needs daily in large numbers. Makronutrisi largest part of the food and provide the necessary energy for growth, maintenance and activities of the body.
Mikronutrisi needed in small quantities (milligrams to micrograms). Which belong to the mikronutrisi are certain vitamins and minerals that cause chemical changes in the use makronutrisi.

Other food components are useful, not digested or metabolized. That falls into this component is a fiber (cellulose, pectin) and sap.
It is recommended to consume at least 20 grams of fiber / day to:
- The smooth functioning of the digestive
- Reduce the blood sugar changes and cholesterol after a meal
- Increase spending materials carcinogens produced by bacteria in the large intestine.

MAKRONUTRITION

Organic Makronutrition

Organic Makronutrisi carbohydrates, fats and proteins, which is 90% dry weight of 100% food and energy.
Makronutrisi digested in the intestine and is broken down into basic forms, namely:
- Sugar from carbohydrates
- Fatty acids and glycerol from fat
- Amino acids of the protein.

Energy consists of:
- 4 calories in 1 gram of protein or carbohydrate
- 9 calories in 1 gram of fat.

Energy requirements ranged from 1000-4000 calories / day depending on the age, gender and physical activity:

1. Women who do not move, small children and older adults need about 1600 calories / day
2. Children who are older, active women and men who are not active require about 2000 calories / day
3. Teenage boys and active men young adults need about 2400 calories / day.

The composition of the calories are as follows:
- 55% coming from carbohydrates
- 30% coming from fat
- 15% coming from protein.

When energy intake does not match the needs of the body, there will be weight loss.Body fat reserves will be used to meet the energy needs required. In more severe circumstances, the body will use protein as an energy source.

Essential Fatty Acids

Approximately 7% of fat consumed in foods, are essential fatty acids (3% of total calories, or about 8 grams), and included in the makronutrisi.
Essential fatty acids consist of:
- Linoleic acid
- Linolenic acid
- Arachidonic acid
- Eikosapentanoat acid
- Dokosaheksanoat acid.

Linoleic acid and linolenic acid found in vegetable oils.
Acid eikosapentanoat and dokosaheksanoat acid, which is very important for brain development, is found in fish oil.
In the body, arachidonic acid can be formed from linoleic acid; eikosapentanoat and amino acids can be formed from dokosaheksanoat linolenic acid.

Makromineral

Which belong to the makromineral are:
- Calcium
- Phosphate
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Potassium
- Magnesium.
They belong to the makronutrisi as needed by the body in large quantities (approximately 1-2 grams / day).
Water is also included in the makronutrisi, as needed 1 milliliter / calories / day for each of the energy used (2 liters / day).

MIKRONUTRISI

Certain vitamins and minerals included in the mikronutrisi.
Vitamin consists of 2 groups, namely:
- Vitamins that are fat soluble (vitamins A, D, E, K)
- Vitamins are water soluble (vitamin C and 8 kinds of vitamin B complex).

Essential Mineral

Which belong to the essential minerals are iron, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, copper, selenium, and fluoride yodida.
Except for fluoride, all types of minerals they function to activate enzymes needed for metabolism.

And calcium fluoride elements form a compound that helps stabilize the minerals in bones and teeth, and prevent damage to the teeth.

Other minerals, such as arsenic, chromium, cobalt, nickel, silicon and vanadium, which may be badly needed by the animals, not human needs.

The entire toxic minerals when consumed in large quantities, and some minerals (arsenic, nickel, chromium) has been identified as a cause kanker.Kecuali fluoride, all types of minerals they function to activate enzymes needed for metabolism.

And calcium fluoride elements form a compound that helps stabilize the minerals in bones and teeth, and prevent damage to the teeth.

Other minerals, such as arsenic, chromium, cobalt, nickel, silicon and vanadium, which may be badly needed by the animals, not human needs.

This entire toxic minerals when consumed in large quantities, and some minerals (arsenic, nickel, chromium) has been identified as a cause of cancer.

NUTRITIONAL NEEDS

The purpose of the right food is to achieve and maintain body composition and physical and mental strength is good.
The need for essential nutrients daily depending on the age, sex, weight, height and physical activity and metabolism.

U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed 4 basic food groups, namely:
- Milk and processed products
- Meat and vegetables rich in proteins
- Wheat and bread
- Fruits and vegetables,
as a balanced diet guidelines.

Guide help is meant for the people choose foods that contain essential nutrients and has a low risk of occurrence of certain diseases, like cancer, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and stroke.
In this guide amount to be provided each day, for each type of food, different. This depends on the energy required, vary from 1600 - 2400kalori/hari.
In general, reduced fat consumption to 30% of calories and the consumption of fruits, vegetables and wheat, should be improved.