Overview of nutrition

[Magaret]

Nutrition is the process of consuming, absorbing, and using nutrients needed by the body for growth, development, and maintenance of life.
To receive adequate, appropriate nutrition, people need to consume a healthy diet, which consists of a variety of nutrients—the substances in foods that nourish the body. A healthy diet enables people to maintain a desirable body weight and composition (the percentage of fat and muscle in the body) and to do their daily physical and mental activities.
If people consume too much food, obesity may result. If they consume large amounts of certain nutrients, usually vitamins or minerals, harmful effects (toxicity) may occur. If people do not consume enough nutrients, undernutrition may develop, resulting in a nutritional deficiency disorder.