Knowra Nutrient Nutrient A substance an organism must obtain from its environment to supply energy, build and maintain tissues, or regulate bodily processes. Nutrients include organic molecules, minerals, and water.
Macronutrient : A nutrient required in relatively large amounts, such as carbohydrate, protein, fat, or water. These supply most dietary energy and the bulk materials needed for growth and maintenance.
Digestion : The mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into forms that can be absorbed. Digestion releases nutrients from food matrices and converts some into absorbable molecules.
Dietary reference intake : A set of reference values used to plan and assess nutrient intakes for healthy populations. These values translate nutrient needs into practical intake targets and safety limits.
Food : Material consumed by organisms that provides nutrients or other resources. Food is the mixture an organism consumes; nutrients are particular substances within it.
Micronutrient : A nutrient required in small amounts, including vitamins and minerals. Small quantities support essential processes without serving as major energy sources.
Absorption (biology) : The movement of substances from a body surface or cavity into tissues or circulation. Absorption carries digested nutrients across the intestine into the body.
Malnutrition : A condition resulting from deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in energy or nutrient intake. Malnutrition captures the health consequences of inadequate, excessive, or imbalanced nutrient supply.
Calorie : A unit of energy; in nutrition, one Calorie equals one kilocalorie. Calories measure energy, whereas nutrients are substances that may supply or support it.
Essential nutrient : A nutrient an organism cannot synthesize in sufficient quantity and must obtain from its environment. Essentiality distinguishes nutrients that must come from food or another external source.
Metabolism : The cellular chemical reactions that acquire, transform, and use energy and matter. Metabolism converts nutrients into usable energy, cellular materials, and regulatory molecules.
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