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Nutrition & Dietetics vocabulary · Macronutrients and Water

Nutrient

Meaning in nutrition & dietetics, with examples

/ˈnuːtriənt/nounCore term

In nutrition & dietetics, nutrient means: A substance in food that the body needs to grow, repair itself, produce energy and stay healthy, such as protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals and water.

In Turkish: besin ögesi, besleyici madde

How it is used

One of the most frequent words in the field. Dietitians talk about nutrient needs, nutrient intake and foods that are 'rich in' or 'a good source of' a nutrient. Nutrients are grouped as macronutrients and micronutrients; 'essential nutrients' are those the body cannot make in sufficient amounts.

Example sentences

  1. Lentils are cheap and packed with nutrients, including protein, fiber and iron.

  2. We need to check whether her diet covers her nutrient needs during pregnancy.

Common collocations

  • essential nutrient
  • nutrient intake
  • nutrient needs
  • rich in nutrients
  • nutrient deficiency
  • macronutrientA nutrient that the body needs in large amounts, measured in grams: carbohydrate, protein and fat. Water is sometimes included in this group too.
  • micronutrientA vitamin or mineral that the body needs only in very small amounts, measured in milligrams or micrograms, but which is essential for health.
  • nutrient-denseDescribing a food that provides a lot of vitamins, minerals, protein or fiber compared with the number of calories it contains.
  • deficiencyA lack of a nutrient in the body that is serious enough to affect health or cause specific signs, such as anemia caused by too little iron.

More terms: Macronutrients and Water

Practise with graded reading

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.