What is the science that studies how food nourishes our bodies and affects our health?

• A. Nutrition
• B. Fitness
• C. Medicine
• D. Anthropology

Answer: (A)

Nutrition is the science that studies how food nourishes our bodies and affects health. It looks at what nutrients we need—carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water—their roles in supplying energy, building and repairing tissues, and supporting metabolic processes. It also considers how digestion, absorption, and metabolism work together to determine how diet influences energy balance, growth, immune function, and the risk of health issues like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and nutrient deficiencies. Beyond just listing nutrients, nutrition explores dietary patterns, nutrient density, meal timing, and how these factors translate into real-world health outcomes, often guiding guidelines and personalized eating plans. Other fields focus on different areas—fitness centers on physical activity, medicine on diagnosing and treating disease, and anthropology on human cultures and evolution—so nutrition specifically targets how food choices shape health.