Introduction to Human

Nutrition

By
Ashenafi.H

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 Learning objectives

By the end of the session, the students will be able to:

• Describe definition, origin & development of
Nutrition

• Describe the significance of Nutrition in general

• Explain why nutrition matters in Ethiopia?

• Briefly Describe the relationship between Nutrition &

the Millennium Development Goals
 Introduction
• Most of the organized studies of nutrition have been
confined to the 20th century.

• Although there was evidence of long-standing

curiosity about nutrition.

• Some of these fact has just been proved by the

modern science and some not.

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• Nutritional discoveries from the earliest days of
history have had a positive effect on our health and
well-being.

• The word nutrition itself means *The process of

nourishing or being nourished, especially the
process by which a living organism assimilates food
and uses it for growth and replacement of tissues.*

• Nutrients are substances that are essential to life

which must be supplied by food.

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• Today more than ever, obtaining nutritional
knowledge can make a big difference in our lives.

• Air, soil, and water pollution in addition to modern

farming techniques, have depleted our soils of vital
minerals.

• The widespread use of food additives, chemicals,

sugar and unhealthy fats in our diets contributes to
many of the degenerative diseases of our day such as
cancer, heart disease, arthritis and osteoporosis.

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Hippocrates
400 B.C. -- the "Father of Medicine", said to his students, "Let
thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food".
Leonardo Da Vinci
1500*s - Scientist and artist Leonardo Da Vinci compared the
process of metabolism in the body to the burning of a candle.
Dr. James Lind
1747 -, a physician in the British Navy, performed the first
scientific experiment in nutrition.
Antoine Lavoisier
1770 --the *Father of Nutrition and Chemistry* discovered
the actual process by which food is metabolized.
Dr. Casmir Funk
1912 - was the first to coin the term *vitamins* as vital factors
in the diet.
1930*s - William Rose discovered the essential amino acids,
the building blocks of protein.

1940*s - The water soluble B and C vitamins were identified.

1940*s - Russell Marker perfected a method of synthesizing

the female hormone progesterone from a component of wild
yams called diosgenin.

1950*s to the Present --The roles of essential nutrients as part

of bodily processes have been brought to light. For example,
more became known about the role of vitamins and minerals
as components of enzymes and hormones that work within
the body.
 Definitions

Food:
• Foods are products derived from plants or animals .

• that can be taken into the body to yield energy and

nutrients for maintenance of life ,for growth and repair
tissues.

• Food is that nourishes the body.

• Food is a prerequisite of nutrition.

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 ❖ Nutrition science
1-The study of nutrients and other substances in foods
and the body's handling of them.

2-Its foundation depends on several other sciences

including biology, biochemistry, and physiology.

3- Comprises the body of knowledge governing the food

requirement growth, activity, reproduction and
lactation.

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❖Nutritional requirements
• The amounts of nutrient which are needed for covering
the human needs to be healthy depend on sex, age and
few other factors.

❖ Nutritional status
An individual condition of health in relation to digestion
and absorption of nutrients.

❖ Nutritional care:
Application of the science of nutrition in nourishing the
body regardless of health problems or potential problems.

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❖Adequate diet: is a diet providing all the needed
nutrients in the right total amounts.

❖Junk food:
Refers to foods that are harmful.

Calories
• The energy released from carbohydrates, proteins and
fats can be measured in calories.

• A calorie is the amount of heat necessary to raise

temperature of 1 gm of water by 1 C.
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• 1000-calorie metric units are known as kilocalories (kcal).

❖Empty-calorie foods
• a popular term used to denote foods contribute energy
(from sugars, fat or both) but lack in protein, vitamins and
minerals Example:(potato chips and candies).

❖ Dietetics
• the health profession responsible for the application of
nutrition science to promote human health and treat
disease

❖ Metabolism
• The sum of all chemical reactions that take place in the
body which it maintains itself produces energy for its
functioning. 12
Nutritional genomics:
• the science of how nutrients affect the
activities of genes and how genes affect the
interactions between diet and disease.

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 ❖ Malnutrition:
Malnutrition has two types:
⮚ Under nutrition: deficient energy or nutrients.

•Symptoms of under nutrition (extremely thin, losing

muscle tissues, prone to infection and disease, skin
rashes, hair loss, bleeding gum and night blindness).

⮚Over nutrition: excess energy or nutrient.

•Symptoms of over nutrition (heart disease, diabetes,

yellow skin, rapid heart rate and low blood
pressure). 14
 ❖ Nitrogen balance
• The proteins in the body undergo constant turnover
(degraded to amino acids and resynthesized).

• Nitrogen balance is the difference between the

amount of nitrogen taken into the body each day and
the amount of nitrogen in compounds lost.

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1- More nitrogen is ingested than excreted, a person is said
to be in positive nitrogen balance (growing individual
such as children and pregnant).

2- Less nitrogen is ingested than is excreted (negative

nitrogen balance), person eating either too little protein
or protein is deficient in one or more of the essential
amino acids, new protein cannot be synthesized and the
unused amino acids will be degraded, body function will
be impaired by the net loss of critical proteins.

3- In contrast, healthy adults are in nitrogen balance and

the amount of nitrogen consumed in the diet equals its
loss in urine. 16
 Food composition

•Food
• Nutrients
•1-Macronutrients
•2-Micronutrients

• Other compounds
•-fibers
•-phytochemicals
•-pigments
•-additives
•-alcohols
•-and others

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❖Diet
Diet is the foods and beverages a person eats and drinks.

❖Nutrients:
❖Chemical substances obtained from foods used in the
body to provide energy, structure materials, regulating
agents to support growth, maintenance, repair of body's
tissues and may also reduce the risks of some diseases.

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24 hr recall
7. preparation (ingredient)
8. portion size
2 tsp (2 chilfa)
1/2
9. convert the foods into nutrients
10. compare and contrast the nutrient
taken with the standard
justify based the result
recommendation
Classification of nutrients
 1. Based on amount needed by the body
Macronutrients Micronutrients
• Are the nutrients which the • Are nutrients needed in
body needed in large amount lesser amounts such as:
such as carbohydrate, protein Vitamins & minerals.
and fats.

• Carbohydrates, protein and

fats are the main source of
energy for human body.

• Are the energy yielding

nutrients.
 2. Based on Chemical composition

Inorganic Organic
🡪Inorganic:
substances that do

not contain carbon
Organic
atoms.nutrients: substance that contain carbon
atom.
• (CHO, lipids , protein and vitamins)
• (water &Mineral)
 3. Based on essentiality

Essential nutrients: Non essential nutrients:

• Nutrients can be formed
nutrients must obtain from food in the body from
because the body cannot make appropriate precursors
them for itself insufficient in adequate amounts
quantity to meet physiological and are identified as
needs. Also called indispensable being ‘dispensable’ .
nutrients.
4. Based on Functions of nutrients

1-Provide energy sources

2-Build tissues
3-Regulate metabolic process

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1-Provide energy sources

• The major carbohydrates in the human diet are starch,

sucrose, fructose and glucose.

• Dietary carbohydrate (starches and sugars) provided the

body's primary source of fuel for energy.

• They also maintain the back-up store of quick energy as

glycogen (animal starch).

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Energy from food
• The amount of energy a food provide depends on how
much CHO, fat, and protein contains.
• When completely broken down in the body,
1 gm CHO 🡪4 kcal of energy
1 gm protein🡪 4 kcal of energy
1 gm of fat 🡪 9 kcal of energy

• Alcohol is not considered a nutrient because it interferes

with health but it yields energy
1 gm of alcohol🡪 7 kcal of energy

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❖ How to calculate the energy available from 1 slice of
bread with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on it
contains 16 grams carbohydrate, 7 grams protein and
9 grams fat?

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2-Build tissues

• Proteins are composed of amino acids that are joined to

form linear chains.

• The digestive process breaks down proteins to their

constituent to amino acids, which enter the blood.

• The primary function of protein is tissue building and

repairing body tissues.

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• Dietary protein provides amino acids, amino acids are
the building unit necessary for construction and
repairing body tissues.

• Muscle protein is essential for body movement and

other proteins serve as enzymes.

• Other nutrients such as minerals and vitamins used in

tissue building and maintaining tissue.

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3-Regulate metabolic process
• Many vitamins and minerals function as coenzymes
factors in cell metabolism.
• Other nutrients (water and fibers),water provides the
environment in which nearly all the body's activities.
• Also, in many metabolic reactions and supplies the
medium for transporting vital materials to cells and
waste products away from them.

• Dietary fibers help regulate the passage of food

material through the gastrointestinal tract and
influences absorption of various nutrients.

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Composition of human body

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Nutrition assessment methods

1- Historical information (socioeconomic status, drug

use, diet and person's family history).

2-A=Anthropometric data (height and weight).

B= biochemical data (Laboratory tests).
C=clinical assessment(Physical examinations)
D=Dietary assessment

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 Sign of good nutrition

1. Well-developed body.
2. Ideal weight.
3. Good muscle development.
4. The skin is smooth and clear
5. The hair glossy and the eyes clear and bright.
6. Appetite, digestion and elimination are normal.
7. Have good resistance to infection.
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The relationship of nutrition with other
sciences

•Nutrition
•food science

•physiology
•biochemistry
•biology
•microbiology
•Medicine

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There are three main areas of overlapping between
nutrition and medicine:
1-dietary control of disease.

2-the relationship between diet as a possible causative

factor in disease ex: cancer, heart diseases etc.

3-the toxicology of natural and processed foods.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF
NUTRITION
 THE BENEFITS OF GOOD NUTRITION

1. To provide Nutrients for the body's cells

2. Growth and tissue repair

3. Reinforcing the immune system

4. Preventing chronic diseases of lifestyle

5. Maintaining good mental health

6. Ensuring healthy teeth and bones

 1. Nutrients for the body's cells
• The body functions by means of a very complex set of
systems that work in perfect synch to make life possible.

• All these systems, for example the cardiovascular,

reproductive and respiratory systems, can be broken
down to cellular level where hormones, enzymes and
neurotransmitters are constantly interacting through
complex processes to make your body function.
 Nutrients for the body's cells
cont….
• These processes are all made possible by the
nutrients that we ingest every day. While certain
nutrients can be produced by the body itself, we
need to get many others through the food we eat.

• A diet deficient in vital nutrients will soon lead to

disease. By eating foods from a variety of different
sources – both animal-based and plant-based – you
will provide your body with the essential nutrients
without which cells cannot function.
 2. Growth and tissue repair
• Just as builders need special materials to renovate a
home, your body demands certain nutrients for its
"construction zone": the growth and repair of tissue.

• Good nutrition has the advantage that it ensures growth

(during childhood and pregnancy), healing and the
maintenance and build-up of muscle mass. For these
essential processes to take place, the body needs energy,
certain vitamins and minerals, but especially protein on a
daily basis.
 2. Growth and tissue repair
cont….
• Protein (which also supplies 17 kilojoules of energy per
gram) can be obtained primarily from animal products such
as meat, eggs and milk.

• Whey protein has been shown to have superior absorption

properties, meaning your body can absorb and use the
protein more readily than other protein sources. Most
plant foods are relatively poor in protein, with the
exception of legumes and beans.

• Although the western diet generally incorporates enough

protein, vegetarians may be getting too little of this vital
nutrient.
 2. Growth and tissue repair
cont….
• If you're a vegetarian, it is important that you make a
point of including protein-rich foods in your diet.

• The advantage is that, when you suffer an injury, your

body will be ready and able to repair the damaged
tissue. You will also be able to maintain your muscle
mass and increase it when you exercise.
• Magnesium, glucosamine, calcium and vitamin D are all
critical for bone and muscle growth and repair, so
consider taking supplements containing these
ingredients if you are concerned your diet may be
deficient.
 3. Reinforcing the immune system
• You can enable your body to fight disease more
effectively with the foods you eat.

• You probably already know that the vitamin C in oranges

helps to ward off infection.

• This vitamin boosts immunity by increasing the

production of B- and T-cells and other white blood cells,
including those that destroy foreign microorganisms.
 Reinforcing the immune system
cont….
• In a similar way, other foods and nutrients can play
an immune-boosting role.

• The key is to optimize your intake of plant-based

foods, such as fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts and
legumes. Including more omega-3 fatty acids in your
diet by eating more fish, while cutting down on your
intake of saturated fat, is also important.
 4. Preventing chronic diseases of
lifestyle
• Good nutrition can be used as a tool to combat chronic
diseases of lifestyle.

• Here, one of the most important steps is to achieve and

maintain a healthy weight by following an energy-
controlled diet.

• It is a well-known fact that obesity and overweight can

lead to chronic diseases, like diabetes type 2, heart
disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and some cancers.
 Preventing chronic diseases of
lifestyle cont….
• Start by cutting out the saturated fats and added
sugars. Also make a point of including more plant-
based foods in your diet.

• Plant-based foods generally have a lower fat content,

are rich in fiber and are also excellent sources of
phytochemicals.
 Preventing chronic diseases of
lifestyle cont….
• More and more research points to the protective
properties of these substances that occur naturally in
plants.

• Phytochemicals seem to be of particular use in the

prevention of cancer and heart disease via its
mechanism of neutralizing free radicals and
thwarting enzymes that activate cancer-causing
agents in the body.
 5. Maintaining good mental health
❖ The most basic principle in preventing depression and
mood swings, is to eat a balanced diet that contains
foods from all the different food groups .those are
• fruit and vegetables
• unprocessed grains and cereals
• lean meat, eggs
• milk and dairy products
• legumes and nuts
• poly- or monounsaturated margarine and oils.
 5. Maintaining good mental health
cont….
• Also make a point of including fatty fish, like salmon and
tuna, in your diet.

• People who have an omega-3 deficiency are more prone

to depression than those who consume adequate
quantities.

• There is evidence to suggest that a good diet, and

sufficient intake of the omega-3s, can also help to
prevent Alzheimer's disease in later life.
 6. Ensuring healthy teeth and bones
• A nutritious diet also ensures the health of your teeth
and bones.

• A balanced, calcium-rich diet – especially during your

childhood, teen and early adult years – has the
advantage that it will ensure an adequate peak bone
mass throughout life.

• Calcium intakes at these levels will greatly assist in

preventing osteoporosis in later life.
Healthy diet
 Healthy diet
✔The shape of the Pyramid is balanced.
✔ If you were to make a pyramid you would put the most on the bottom
to support all the rest.
✔ If build it with the smallest part on the bottom, what will happen?
All of a sudden, it would come tumbling down!!

Unbalanced
If you built a pyramid and take out a few pieces in
the middle, what will happen?