Food and nutrition for a better quality of life

RESUMO

Nutrition has a broad, multisectorial identity and coverage. It deals with all mechanisms through which living organisms receive and utilize food nutrients. Nutrition has to be a goal by itself. Although great advances are found in the food and nutrition field, there is still plenty of malnutrition in the world, mainly linked to educational, social and economic problems. Undernutrition is prevalent in the poor countries and inadequate nutrition is responsible for serious social, medical and economic problems in industrialized countries. Genetics, molecular biology, role of vitamins as antioxidants and cancer prevention are some areas of research in nutrition where recent progress has been made. Community nutrition problems, such as the prevention of vitamin A and iron deficiencies, have alternative solutions, as shown by our own laboratories.More and better prepared human resources in nutritional sciences are still a must in the area. Nutrition is, certainly, a key factor to improve quality of life of persons and countries.