nutrimento

Nutrimento is a noun used in Italian and Portuguese to denote nourishment or a substance that sustains life. In nutrition science, it refers to any component of food that contributes to growth, the maintenance of body tissues, energy production, or metabolic regulation. Nutritive substances include macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and water, as well as micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Dietary fiber is often discussed separately as a non-digestible constituent that supports health.

Etymology: from Latin nutrimentum, meaning nourishment; related to nutrire, to nourish.

Role: The body relies on nutrients to support cell function, tissue repair, immune response, and reproduction. Some nutrients are essential, meaning the body cannot synthesize them in adequate amounts and they must be obtained from the diet. Others are non-essential or conditionally essential.

Classification: Macronutrients supply energy; micronutrients regulate metabolism. Water is essential for hydration and physiological processes. Nutrient needs are expressed as dietary recommendations that vary by age, sex, activity, and health status.

Diet and health: A balanced diet provides a variety of nutrients in appropriate amounts. Nutritional science investigates digestion, absorption, metabolism, and the relationships between nutrient intake and health outcomes, including growth, cognitive function, and risk of disease.

Language usage: In English, the term nutrimento is rare; the related word nutrient is more common, while nutrition is the science and practice of consuming nutriments.