Nutrition

Nutrition is the study of the relationship between diet and states of health and disease. Absent appropriate nutrition, functioning will be compromised and diseases can take hold, potentially resulting in death.

Current issues and challenges

Challenging issues in modern nutrition include:

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'Artificial' interventions in food production and supply:

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• Should genetic engineering be used in the production of food crops and animals?
• Are the use of pesticides, and fertilizers damaging to the foods produced by use of these methods (see also organic farming)?
• Are the use of antibiotics and hormones in animal farming ethical and/or safe?

Sociological issues:

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• How do we minimise the current disparity in food availability between first and third world populations (see famine and poverty)?
• How can public advice agencies, policy making and food supply companies be coordinated to promote healthy eating and make wholesome foods more convenient and available?
• Do we need nutritional supplements in the form of pills, powders, liquids, etc.?
• How can the developed world promote good worldwide nutrition through minimising import tariffs and export subsidies on food transfers?

Research Issues:

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• How do different nutrients affect appetite and metabolism, and what are the molecular mechanisms?
• What yet to be discovered important roles do vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients play in metabolism and health?
• Are the current recommendations for intake of vitamins and minerals generally too low?
• How and why do different cell types respond differently to chronically elevated circulating levels of insulin, leptin, and other hormones?
• What does it take for insulin resistance to develop?
• What other molecular mechanisms may explain the link between nutrition and lifestyle-related diseases?
• What role does the intestinal bacterial flora play in digestion and health?
• How essential to proper digestion are the enzymes contained in food itself, which are usually destroyed in cooking (see Living foods diet)?
• What more can we discover through what has been called the phytochemical revolution?