history of human nutrition

1. Introduction to human nutrition
for Nursing students
Prepared by Tegegn Tadesse (MSc in human
nutrition)
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2. objectives
• At the end this section students will be able
to:
• Define what is nutrition
• Describe the brief history of nutrition
• Understand the importance of nutrition
• Define nutrient and describe types of
nutrients
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3. Introduction to nutrition
• Food:- is defined as any solid or liquid which
when ingested will enable the body to carry
out any of its life function
• Nutrition:-is the sum total of the process by
which living things receive and utilize the
necessary materials for survival, growth and
maintenance of worn out tissues
• the science of nutrition is the science of
showing how food nourishes the body
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4. Brief history of nutrition
• Human nutrition is as old as humankind
• In the second half of the eighteenth century that
nutrition started to experience its first renaissance
• The science of nutrition developed widely in the
twentieth century
• essential macro and micronutrients studied in this
century
• The impact of nutritional status on major lifecycle events
identified
• Good nutrition is recognized as a major contributing
factor in mortality reduction and prevention of diseases
• Currently the issue of adequate nutrition for all people in
the world is more pressing than ever before
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5. Brief history…
• The Bible, Book of Daniel: Daniel objected to being fed
fine foods and wine, saying he preferred vegetables,
pulses and water
• Hippocrates (Greece,460BC-370BC): "Let the food be
the medicine and the medicine be the food’’
• Antoine Lavoisier (France, 1743-1794): known as the
father of “nutrition” and designed calorimeter
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6. Brief history…
• Christian Eijkman (Holland, 1858-1930): He
noticed Beriberi, a disease which leads to
heart problems and paralysis
• Dr. James Lind (Scotland, 1716-1794): found
the consumption of citrus fruits to prevent
and cure scurvy
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7. Why nutrition matters?
• Nutrition contributes to wellness
• Nutrition can prevent diseases
• Nutrition deficiency leads to under-nutrition,
low productivity and growth
• Overnutrition leads to obesity and chronic
diseases
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8. Nutrients
• Nutrients are chemicals in foods that are critical
to human growth and function
Dietary nutrients are categorized as:
• Macronutrients: nutrients needed in large
amounts to provide energy and building units for
tissue structure and physiological functions
• Includes proteins, carbohydrates and fats
• Micronutrients: nutrients needed in small
amounts to facilitate metabolic processes and
serve structural needs
• Includes vitamins and minerals
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9. Nutrients…cont’d
• Indispensable nutrients are defined as those
that had to come from food or supplements
• dispensable nutrients are body could
synthesize in amounts needed
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10. Thank you!!!