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Nutrition basics

• What is a nutrient?
• More information on nutrition basics

What is a nutrient?

A nutrient is any substance in food that:

• Provides energy
• Helps your body "burn" another nutrient to provide energy
• Helps build or repair tissue

The different types of nutrients include:

• Proteins
• Carbohydrates
• Fats
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Water

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More information on nutrition basics

Read more from womenshealth.gov

• Heart Healthy Eating Fact Sheet — This fact sheet provides information on how healthy eating habits can help to reduce the risk of heart disease. It explains what a healthy portion is and how to make heart-healthy food choices.
  http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/heart-healthy-eating.cfm

Explore other publications and websites

• ChooseMyPlate.gov — This interactive site is based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and gives information on how much of each food group you should eat each day. It also includes tips and resources for planning a well-balanced and healthy diet.
  http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 — This report provides advice about how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risks for major chronic diseases.
  http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-PolicyDocument.htm
• Food Ingredients & Colors (Copyright © International Food Information Council) — This brochure provides information about food additives such as coloring, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners. The brochure also answers common questions about food and color additives.
  http://www.foodinsight.org/Resources/Detail.aspx?topic=Food_Ingredients_Colors
• Fruit & Vegetable Benefits — This website provides an overview of the health benefits gained by eating fruits and vegetables daily. It has links to more information on how many fruits and vegetables to eat, how using them will help manage weight, and charts to help you learn which nutrients are in certain foods.
  http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/benefits/index.html
• Let's Eat for the Health of It — This brochure has tips to help you build a healthy plate, cut back on unhealthy foods, eat the right amount of calories, and be physically active.
  http://www.choosemyplate.gov/downloads/MyPlate/DG2010Brochure.pdf
• Ten Tips Nutrition Education Series — This series has fact sheets with tips that can help you get started toward a healthy diet. Choose a change that you can make today, and move toward a healthier you.
  http://www.choosemyplate.gov/tipsresources/tentips.html

Connect with other organizations

• American Dietetic Association
  http://www.eatright.org/default.aspx
• Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, CDC
  http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/
• Food and Nutrition Information Center, USDA
  http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/
• Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
  http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/
• International Food Information Council Foundation
  http://www.foodinsight.org/Home.aspx
• Nutrition.gov
  http://www.nutrition.gov/

Content last updated June 17, 2008.

Resources last updated June 17, 2008.

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