Subject notes

2.  Nutrition is the branch of science that deals with nutrients and nutrition or all food necessary for
growth , development, regulation and repair of the body.
 An appropriate diet contributes to healthy development, healthy ageing and greater resilience
against disease. Similarly, a poor or inappropriate diet places people at greater risk of infection
and a range of chronic illnesses – including cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
 The healthy diet throughout life promotes healthy pregnancy outcomes, supports normal growth,
development and ageing, helps to maintain a healthy body weight, and reduces the risk of chronic
disease leading to overall health and well-being.
 Food is any edible substance which nutritional support to the body. It is usually of plant or
animal origin and consists of essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, proteins or
minerals.
 Macronutrients are carbohydrates, proteins and fat. They are energy providing nutrients .Energy
is essential for the body to grow, repair, and develop new tissues ,conduct nerve impulse and
regulate life process. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals required for the normal
functioning of the body.

4. A balanced diet is defined as the diet that contains the
required amount of calories, vitamins and minerals that are
essential to keep a person healthy.
It should offer around 60-70% of total calories from
carbohydrates,10-12% from proteins and 20-25% of total
calories from fat.
A balanced diet is important to maintain health and a sensible
body weight. It must contain sufficient amount of nutrients
such as carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals etc.
Improper diet may result in
• Failure to flourish
• Poor growth
• Poor development
• Poor physical and mental health
• Infectious diseases
• Even death

5. Health benefits of a balanced diet
• Healthy eating increases energy, improves body
functions, strengthens immune system and
prevents weight gain.
• Other benefit include
Meets nutritional need-A balanced diet provides
nutrients to avoid deficiencies.
Prevent and treat certain diseases-Healthy eating
can prevent the risk of developing certain diseases
such as diabetes, cancer and heart diseases.
It also helpful in treating high blood pressure.
A healthy diet will provide more energy and help to
fight against stress.

6. Carbohydrates:
• Energy giving compound necessary for daily activity,
necessary for working of brain, heart, nervous tissue.
• Two types of carbohydrate –simple and complex
• Complex carbohydrates which are not digested by human
enzymes are called dietary fibres
 Role of fibres: Helps in weight reduction, proper bowel
movement and healthy intestine.
 Sources:
Dairy- Milk, yogurt, and ice cream.
Fruit.-Whole fruit and fruit juice.
Grains- Bread, rice, and cereal.
Legumes-Beans and other plant-based proteins.
Starchy Vegetables-Potatoes and corn.

7. Fats:The main function is to give energy. It is important
for transport of vitamins A,D,E,K.
Two types of Fats-Saturated and unsaturated.
• Saturated fats are solid at room temperature.
• eg: Ghee, butter, coconut oil. This is bad for our health
• Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature.
• eg:omega-3-fatty acids,omega-6-fatty acids. This is
good for our health.
Sources: Olive oil, rice bran oil, soyabean oil, fish etc are
good source of omega-3-fatty acids.

8.  Minerals: These are inorganic substances needed by all cells
for normal functions.
 These are necessary for 3 reason:
• In order to build strong bones and teeth ,
• controlling body fluids inside and outside cells and converting
the food into energy.
• They include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium,
potassium, iron iodine ,zinc etc
• Phosphorus important for healthy bones and teeth. It is found
in every cell.
• It is the part of the system that maintains acid base balance.
• Magnesium is found in bones, needed for making muscle
contraction, nerve transmission, immune health system

9.  Iodine is a mineral found in some foods.
The body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones.
The hormones controls the body's metabolism and
many other important functions.
The body also needs thyroid hormones for proper
bone and brain development during pregnancy and
infancy.
 Zinc is found in cells through out the body.
It is needed for the body's defensive ( immune
)system to properly work.
It plays a role in cell division, cell growth, wound
healing, and the breakdown of carbohydrates.

10. Vitamins:
This is an essential micro nutrient which an
organism needs in small quantities for the proper
functioning of its metabolism.
These are also needed for the normal growth,
maintenance and reproduction.
Two types-fat soluble vitamins and water soluble
• Lack of all these nutrients leads to a condition
called malnutrition.
• Case of cancer increased twofold due to lack of
fibre in diet

11. How to achieve a balanced diet
At the core of balanced diet are foods that are rich in
vitamins,minerals,and other nutrients, low in unnecessary
fats and sugars. The following are essential parts of a
balanced diet.
1. Fruits
Fruits are good source for their multivitamins and minerals.
Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C.Most fruits contain
significant amounts of ascorbic acid.it is used as antioxidant.
 Papaya and mango are excellent sources of carotene
 Fruits are good sources of minerals especially sodium and
k
 Dried fruits like dates are good source of calcium and iron
 Banana and mango contain good amounts of carbohydrate
 Fruits contain cellulose which assist in normal bowel
movement
 A daily intake of 85gm or more of fresh fruits for
maintenance of good health is recommended

12.  2.Vegetables
Vegetables are classified as protective foods; their
value resides in their high vitamin and mineral
content.
 Leafy vegetables are high in water content and
dietary fibres
 Vegetables are good sources of protein.
 The recommended daily intake of green leafy
vegetables is about 40gm for an adult
 The daily intake of fibres is 50-60gm.
◦ Contents of balanced diet
Cereals ,pulses, green leafy vegetables, other
vegetables roots and tubers, fruits, milk, fats, and
oils, eggs, sugars and jaggery and ground nuts

13.  How to maintain a balanced diet:
1. Eat fruits and vegetables-provide lots of vitamins and
minerals,
5 portions/day
2.Eat protein-For growth and repair,
women:45gm/day, men:55gm/day
3.Eat diary products:
Good source of calcium-promote strong bones and
teeth, regulate muscle contraction, including heart beat
regulation,3 portion/day.
4.Eat carbohydrates:
long lasting ,slow release of energy is provided,1/3
portion of each meal
5.Be careful with sugars,salts,fats:It transport fat soluble
vitamins-around the body, supplies essential fatty acids.

14.  A balanced diet is mixture of
 Carbohydrates(50%)
 Fats(32%)
 Proteins(12%)
 Vitamins(3%)
 Minerals
 Sufficient water
Carbohydrates:
These are the chief source of energy (60-70% total energy),brain and
other parts depend glucose for energy.
Deficiency disorders:
 Acidosis-Too much acid in the body
 Ketosis-a metabolic rate charaterised by raised levels of ketones
bodies in the body tissues
 Hypoglycaemia-a condition in which amount of glucose in blood
is lower than normal.
 Unhealthy weight loss
 Fatigue and decreased energy levels

15.  Proteins:
 These are the fundamental basis of cell structure and
function,Maintains osmotic pressure and have role in
clotting of blood, muscle contraction.
 Deficiency disorders:
 Kwashiorkor
 Marasmus
 Mental retardation
 Dietary vitamins and minerals:
 Calcium deficiency disorder:Osteoporosis,Rickets
Rickets is a disease of growing bones.It is a condition
that affects bone development in children.It causes
bonepain,poor growth and soft,weak bones that can
lead to bone deformities.
 Iodine deficiency disorder:
Goitre-a swelling of neck resulting from
enlargement of thyroid gland
 Iron deficiency disorder:
Iron deficiency anaemia

16.  Protein deficiency disorders
 Kwashiorkor:Protein energy malnutrition.It is a form of malnutrition that
occurs when there is no adequate protein in the diet.
Also called wet-protein energy malnutrition.
Protein energy malnutrition sometimes called protein energy undernutrition is a
form of mal nutrition that is defined as a range of pathological conditions
arising from coincident lack of dietary protein/or energy (calories) in varying
proportions.The condition has mild,moderate,and severe degrees.
It refers to an insufficient protein consumption but with sufficient calorie intake.
Usually appear in the age of 12 months when breast feeding is discontinued.
 Signs and symptoms:
 Change in skin pigment
 Diarrhoea
 Decreased muscle mass
 Swelling (edema)
 Fatigue(tiredness)
 Hair changes
 Lethargy-a state of tiredness or lack of energy or enthuiasm
 Failure to gain weight and grow

17.  Management:
The children affected with kwashiorkor should be fed with
dietary protein gradually
Kwashiorkor can be corrected by eating more protein and
more calories overall, especially if treatment is started early
First give with more calories in the form of
carbohydrates,sugars,and fats. Once these calories provide
energy, give foods with proteins.
Foods must be introduced and calories should be increased
slowly.
 MARASMUS:severe form of malnutrition when person does
not consume enough protein and calories.
Severe protein calorie malnutrition characterized by energy
deficiency .It causes stunted growth and wasting of muscles
and tissues.
Develop between the age of 6 months and 1 years in children
who weaned from breast feeding/who suffer from weakening
conditions like chronic diarrhoea.

18.  Symptoms:
 Severe growth retardation
 Loss of subcutaneous fat
 Severe muscle wasting
 Child looks thin and limbs
 Wrinkled skin
 Frequent watery diarrhoea and acid stools
 Prevention-Give the affected person a healthy and
nutritious food rich in proteins and calories.
Vitamin deficiency disorders:
Functions of vitamin A:
1.Vitamins plays several roles in the body for
vision, immune function,
embryonic development and reproduction, bone
metabolism,
antioxidant activity, skin and cellular health

19.  Deficiency disorders
Night blindness-it is a type of vision impairment. People with night blindness experience po
night
Xerophthalmia is a progressive eye disease caused by vitamin A deficiency.
It is a medical condition in which the eye fails to produce tears,
complete blindness,
impaired immune function
birth defects
 Management
Deficiency of vitamin A can be achieved by eating vitamin A rich foods and external supplem
vitamin preparation.
Foods rich in vitamin A:
Carrot(835 microgram),
Spinach(469 microgram),
Sweet potato(709microgram),
Butter(684microgram),
Papaya(55 microgram),
Mango(38 microgram),
Pea(38 microgram),
Milk(28 microgram) etc

20.  Vitamin D deficiency disorder:
Function of vitamin D:
1.Maintain the normal calcium and phosphorus levels in the
body to build strong bones, teeth and nails.
2.Supporting the cell functions and other neuromuscular
functions in the body
3.Prevents rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults
4.Vitamin D helps in maintaining a health immune system in
the body
Disorders:
Osteoporosis,rickets.A lack of vitamin D or calcium is the
most common cause of rickets. Vitamin D largely comes from
exposing the skin to sunlight, but it is also found in some
foods such as oily fish and eggs. Vitamin D is essential for
the formation of strong and healthy bones in children. Adults
can experience a similar condition which is known as
osteoporosis or soft bones.
Management:
Dietary supplementation of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3

21. Vitamin E deficiency disorder:
Vitamin E deficiency in humans is a very rare condition, occurring as
consequences of abnormalities in dietary fat absorption ,or metabolism.
Vitamin E deficiency can cause neuromuscular problems such as
spinocerebellar ataxia-it is one of group of genetic disorders
characterised by degenerative changes in the part of the brain related to
the movement control and sometimes in the spinal cord.
neurological problems,
impairment of immune response,
Retinopathy-damage to the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the
eye(retina) .
Treatment:
Individuals who cannot absorb fat may require a vitamin E supplement
because some dietary fat is needed for the absorption of vitamin E from
gastrointestinal tract.

22. Vitamin K deficiency disorder:
The functions of vitamin K are concerned with blood clotting
process
It brings about post-translational modification of certain
blood clotting factors
Disorders:
 Hematomas-caused by an injury to the wall of a blood
vessel,promting blood to seep out of the blood vessel into
the surrounding tissues.
 Cartilage calcification-calcification of soft tissue (arteries,
heart valves etc..) can be caused by vitamin K deficiency
 Risk of massive uncontrolled bleeding
 Oozing of blood at surgical or puncture sites
Management:
Dietary supplementation of vitamin. It includes leafy
vegetables,oilssuch as soya been ,cottonseed and olive oils.

23. Deficiency disorders of vitamin B complex:
The vitamin B complex is essential to
• support and increase the rate of metabolism,
• maintain healthy skin, hair and muscle tone,
• Enhance immune and nervous system functions
• Promote cell growth and division, includes that of the
red blood cells that help prevent anaemia.
Disorders include
Beriberi - It is a disease caused by vitamin B1 deficiency
also known as thiamine deficiency. There are 2 types of
beriberi: wet and dry BeriBeri. Wet beriberi affects the
heart and circulatory system. In extreme cases wet
berberi can cause heart failure. Dry beriberi damage
nerves and can leads to decreased muscle strength and
muscle paralysis.
Other disorders include depression, impaired growth
and neurological disorders in infants.

24.  Vitamin B complex-A group of vitamins affects skin,
muscles,heart,nerves
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) Disorders-Beriberi
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) Disorders-Cheilosis (a disorder
of lips marked by scaling at the corner of mouth
• Vitamin B3 (niacin) Disorders-Pellagra (inability to
absorb niacin)
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) Disorders-It is important for
maintain healthy brain function
• Vitamin B9 (folic acid) Disorders-Vitiligo ( skin
condition in loss of brown color results in white patches
• Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) Disorders-Pernicious
anemia ( abnormal large blood cells).

25. Management:
B-complex vitamins are found in completely unprocessed foods.B
vitamins are richly present in tuna and turkey meat in fish liver.
Good sources of vitamins include whole grains, potatoes,
bananas, chilly peppers, beans, nutritional yeast, and molasses.
 Vitamin C deficiency disorder
Citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, Sweet and white
potatoes are all excellent sources of vitamin C.
Function: Aids in wound healing,
helps to promote healthy immune system.
Vitamin C deficiency disorder is survy(Bleeding gums, weakness,
fatigue and rash are among scurvy symptoms)
other disorders include poor wound healing,anemia,heart
problems.

26.  Mal nutrition is a serious condition that develops due to
inadequate or imbalanced intake of vitamins ,minerals, and
other nutrients needed to maintain health and other organ
function.
 Under nutrition-is the consequence of consuming an
inadequate amount nutrients and calories needed for the
overall development and growth of body.
 Overnutrition-results from overeating or consuming nutrients
in wrong proportions.

27.  Causes include-poor dietary intake, mental health
problems, alcoholism, eating disorders, digestive
disorders.
 Signs and sympotoms-
losing 5-10% of total body weight without exercise
Fatigue
Dizziness
Slow wound heating
Soft and tender bones
Joint ache
Visual disturbances

28.  Blood and urine test are done to measure the levels of
vitamins ,minerals, and other nutrients.
 Nutritional assessment is done by BMI ( Body Mass
Index),comparing weight to standardised charts.
 X-rays are recommended to determine the bone density
and gastrointestinal disturbance.
 Treatment of malnutrition comprises of replenishing
deficient nutrient and treating the sympotoms as
needed.

29.  Prevention-
 Eating a well balanced diet can prevent different types of
malnutrition.
 Breast feeding a baby for six months is the best way to
prevent early child hood malnutrition.
 Consume foods low in fat and carbohydrates and high in
protein.
 Engage in moderate physical activity at least 4-5 times a
week for 30 minutes.