after meeting all the body requirements”. This is known as optimum or adequate nutrition and it helps to maintain good health. Thus nutrients from food sources enable one to keep fit and maintain health. These substances include energy which gives the capacity to work, proteins which form our body muscles, bones, blood, organs, skin, hair and nervous tissues.
Food supplies minerals and vitamins which protect our organs and regulate their functions and other physiological processes. Malnutrition: Malnutrition is that state of ill-health which may be caused by the deficiency or excess of one or more essential nutrients in the body. Unhealthy environment also causes malnutrition. Physical, mental and intellectual well- being of a person is affected due to malnourishment.
DO YOU KNOW...? Nutrition science is the area of knowledge regarding the role of food in maintenance of health. Definition of Nutrition Nutrition is the process of ingestion, digestion, absorption, transportation and utilization of nutrients for the well being of the body. It is the process of providing nourishment to the body for a healthy life.
- - Introduction to Nutrition Science A malnourished person is physically, mentally, socially and emotionally sick. It is of two types: i. Under nutrition ii. Over nutrition .
Signs of Well Nourished Child . Skin is smooth and shiny with a healthy colour. . Bright and clear eyes and pink eye membranes.
Table . : Types of Malnutrition Under nutrition Over nutrition . Under nutrition is deficiency of one or more nutrients. .
It is that state of nutrition in which the quality and quantity of food is not sufficient for the body and is deficient in one or more nutrients. . When almost all nutrients are below the requirement, the condition is known as under nourishment. .
An undernourished person manifests symptoms of deficiencies and feels unwell. Poor body weight, poor resistance to infection, weakness and general ill-health are the symptoms of under nourishment. . Over nutrition is excess of one or more nutrients.
. It is that state of nutrition in which the intake of nutrients is in excess of body