Human Nutrition - The Basics

Food is a very complex mixture of different types of very large molecules — the proteins and some carbohydrates; then there's mid-ranged sized molecules such as fats; and finally there's a wide variety of smaller molecules including vitamins, minerals, small carbohydrates like sugars, and other phytonutrients, which are protective substances found in plants (phyto = plant). Most foods you eat are a mixture of all of these different molecules, and since you need a variety of types of nutrients, your body must be able to digest these varied types of molecules in food. This section explains the technical details of food and it's components, namely carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and vitamins.

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Herbs and Foods May Lead to Complications If You Take Them with Drugs

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr 1/29/2003
Experts suggest that natural does not mean it is completely safe. Everything you put in your mouth has the potential to interact with something else. The medication that is taken by mouth travels through the digestive system in much the same way as food and herbs taken orally do. So, when a drug is mixed with food or another herb, each can alter the way the body metabolizes the other. Some drugs interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Similarly, some herbs and foods can lessen or increase the impact of a drug.