Nutrition is all about the study of food and how our bodies use food as fuel for growth and daily activities. The macronutrients, or "big" nutrients include proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The micronutrients, or "little" nutrients are the vitamins and minerals that we need to be healthy. Here you can find articles, tools, and resources to help you learn about these nutrients, and help you analyze your own diet and food choices.
What health topics are on your mind now that didn't matter to you ten years ago? Share your thoughts about health care topics and how they've changed over the decade from 1999 to 2009.
In the ten years that have passed since 1999 turned to 2000, we've changed some of the ways we think about our health. Here's a list of big topics in health you probably weren't thinking about ten years ago.
Food manufacturing companies use many different additives to help preserve freshness, improve texture, add flavor and to protect foods from spoiling. Here are some of the more common food additives you're likely to find on the ingredients lists of the processed foods you buy.
The major minerals are the six dietary minerals your body needs in the largest amounts. These minerals are necessary for many processes in your body, especially fluid balance, maintenance of bones and teeth, muscle contractions and nervous system function.
The fat-soluble vitamins are vital for many of the functions your body needs to stay healthy, including cell differentiation, immune system function and they'll help to keep your bones strong. Your body stores the fat-soluble vitamins in your body, so you need to be careful with dietary supplements that include fat-soluble vitamins.
The water-soluble vitamins are vital for many of the functions your body needs to stay healthy, including energy production, immune system function and they'll help to keep your heart healthy. Your body doesn't store most of the water-soluble vitamins very long, so they need to be replenished daily.
You probably already know that a nutrient is something that is good for you, but do you really know what a nutrient is?
Genetically modified foods are becoming more common. A reader wants to know if GMO foods are safe to eat.
Carbohydrates aren't bad. They are good, and we need them for good health. Learn about the different types of carbohydrates and where to find healthy carbohydrates in our diets.
IU, RDA, DRI, g, mg? Looks like alphabet soup. This article explains some of the common abbreviations that are used in nutrition.
Your body and your brain tells you when you are hungry, but do you know why you need to eat? Here is an introduction to why your body needs good nutrition.
Do you regularly skip breakfast? Not a good idea. Learn why breakfast is so important for starting off each day.
Fats are an important part of a healthy diet. Learn about the different types of fats, which fats are good, and which fats aren't so good.
Here are some tips for finding healthy foods when you are shopping at the grocery store.
Some ingredients that are added to the foods you eat will help keep you healthy. Find out which nutritional ingredients are good for you.
A printable grocery list to help shoppers choose healthy foods.
With this diet and that diet, whatever happened to just eating healthy food? It should be easier than that. Here's how.
This quiz will help you determine if you have a healthy diet.
The USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference is one of the best and most comprehensive tools you can use to evaluate the nutritional value of the foods you eat.
The FDA requires the foods that we buy must be labeled for nutritional content. Learn how to read the Nutrition Facts food label.
Choosing which foods to eat shouldn't be difficult. While we want our foods to taste good, the amount of nutrition they offer is more important. Learn about nutrient density and how to choose nutrient dense foods.
I have received a lot of questions from readers. You can browse through the questions and read my answers.
Take this fun nutrition quiz to test your knowledge of nutrition and learn a bit more.
Here are the basics of protein. Learn what protein does for our bodies and why we need protein in our diet.
A reference to quickly find information on vitamins, minerals and macro-nutrients.
Portion size of foods at meals are getting bigger and it is one reason people are gaining weight.
You hear a lot about processed foods, however one reader isn't sure what processed foods are. Read my answer to the reader's question.
Read this article to learn more about carbohydrates and why we need healthy carbohydrates in our diets.
A screening quiz to help adults determine which dietary supplements will help to maintain good health and prevent disease.
A reader wants to know the difference between enriched food and fortified food.
