What is the study of how the body utilizes food for health and growth called?

The study of how the body utilizes food for health and growth is called nutrition. This field focuses on the vital role that nutrients play in maintaining health, supporting growth, and preventing diseases. Nutrition examines various aspects such as how the body digests, absorbs, and utilizes different food components, as well as how these processes affect overall health and well-being.

In the context of nutrition, key concepts include understanding macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), their functions, and their recommended dietary allowances. This knowledge is crucial for developing dietary guidelines and meal plans that promote health.

While other terms like dietetics and nutritional science are closely related, they have specific implications. Dietetics is the practice of applying nutrition knowledge to manage dietary needs, usually through professional practice, while nutritional science encompasses broader research into nutrients and their effects on the body, focusing on scientific study and inquiry. Metabolism refers to the biochemical processes by which the body converts food into energy but does not directly encompass the full study of food utilization in terms of health and growth as nutrition does.