ANSC 350 Introduction

nutrition

the act or process of nourishing or being nourished; the sum of the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and utilizes food substances

nutrient

any chemical element or compound in the diet that supports normal life processes

6 classes of nutrients

water, carbohydrates, lipids (fats), proteins and amino acids, vitamins, inorganic elements (minerals)

essential nutrients

must be provided in the diet; cannot be synthesized enough or at all

nonessential nutrients

the body can synthesize it on its own; not necessary in the diet

food

edible material that provides nutrients

feed

animal food

food (feed) stuff

any material made into or used as food (feed)

diet

mixture of feedstuffs used to supply nutrients to an animal

ration

daily allotment of food (feed)

60

percent water in an adult mammal

20

percent fat in an adult mammal

16

percent protein in an adult mammal

4

percent mineral in an adult mammal

humans

species varying the most in fat content