ABSTRACT
Nutrition and its impact on health and performance are of crucial importance. Nutritional deficiencies were once a major health challenge in most developed countries. However, what we are facing now is the fact that nutritional abundance contributes to many of today’s health problems. In order to choose foods that satisfy your personal and cultural preferences, but which also contribute to a healthy diet and prevent diseases, you must have information about what nutrients you require, what role they play in health and performance, and what foods contain them. You must also be able to judge the validity of the nutrition information you encounter. Your body uses the nutrients from foods to make all its components, fuel all its activities, and defend itself against diseases. How successfully your body handles these tasks depends, in part, on your food choices and your understanding of the principles of nutrition. Nutritious food choices support a healthy and strong body.
