Food provides nourishment to the body by meeting needs for energy, building materials, regulation of processes, and protection. Nutrition is the study of how food works in the body. Food has physiological functions like growth, energy provision, regulation, maintenance, and recovery from disease. It also has psychological functions by providing comfort and being associated with emotions, and social functions by bringing people together for celebrations and get-togethers. Nutrition involves nutrients that supply nourishment, and is the science of food and health. Malnutrition results from excess, deficiency, or imbalance of nutrients.

1. Food and its functions
Dr Mrs Vandana Mahajani

2. What is food?
 Food is that which nourishes the body.
 It can be defined as anything that meets the needs
for energy, building, regulation and protection of the
body.
Dr Mrs Vandana Mahajani

3. What is nutrition?
 Nutrition is defined as food at work in the body.
 It is the scientific study of food and its relation to
health
Dr Mrs Vandana Mahajani

4. Functions of food
 Physiological function
 Body building or growth
 Providing energy
 Regulation of body process (beating of the heart etc)
 Protective function.( recovery from diseases)
 Maintenance and repairs
Dr Mrs Vandana Mahajani

5.  Psychological function
 They give a sense of comfort, security, love and
attention.
 Sharing of food among friend is a token of friendship
and acceptance
 Friendly get together help in introducing us to new
foods
 Foods are associated with emotions like sweets and
chocolates for celebration
 Food is used for reward and punishment.
Dr Mrs Vandana Mahajani

6.  Social function
 Food serves as a reason for get togethers.
 Temples, gurudwaras serve same food to all
 Birthdays , marriage and others celebrations become
reasons to serve food
 Males are given more and better food due to their
higher status in the society
 Refreshments served at get togethers bring more
people together rather then dividing them
 Food planned must be wholesome and enjoyable
Dr Mrs Vandana Mahajani

7. Some important definitions
 Nutrients: Nutrients are chemical components of
food that supply nourishment to the body.
 Nutrition: nutrition is the science of food and its
interaction with an organism to promote and
maintain health.
 Health: it is a state of complete physical, mental and
emotional well being.
Dr Mrs Vandana Mahajani

8.  Malnutrition: means wrong type of nutrition. It results
from excess, deficiency or imbalance of nutrients.
 Undernutrition: refers to deficiency of calaories or
one or more nutrients in the body.
 Overnutrition: refers to excess of calories or one or
more nutrient in the body.
Dr Mrs Vandana Mahajani

9.  Diet: it means the kind and amount of food
consumed every day
 Balanced diet: Is one that contains all nutrients in the
right amount required by the individual
 Calorie : it is the unit of measuring the enery value of
foods or the energy needs of the body
Dr Mrs Vandana Mahajani

10.  RDA means Recommended Dietary Allowance
are the levels of intake of essential nutrients
considered to be adequate to meet the known
nutritional needs .
Dr Mrs Vandana Mahajani