Nutrition, in plain terms
Short reference articles on how nutrients work, what to look for on a label, and how food combinations affect what your body absorbs.
Daily needs calculator
Enter your sex, age, height, weight and activity level to estimate your daily energy, protein, carbs, fat, fibre and water needs.
Protein
The macronutrient made up of amino acid chains. Involved in nearly every structural and functional role in the body.
Carbohydrates
The body's preferred fuel. Structure ranges from simple sugars to complex, slowly digested starches and fibres.
Fats
A concentrated energy source and a carrier for fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Fibre
Plant-origin carbohydrates that resist digestion. Split broadly into soluble and insoluble types with different effects.
Vitamins
Organic micronutrients required in small amounts for normal metabolic function.
Minerals
Inorganic elements the body needs, from macrominerals like calcium to trace minerals like selenium and zinc.
Omega-3 fatty acids
A family of polyunsaturated fats including ALA (plant), EPA and DHA (marine).
Food combinations
How foods eaten together can change absorption and satiety.
Nutrient absorption
Nutrients on a label are not always the same as what your body uses.
Portion sizes
Practical anchors for weighing food without a scale.
Reading nutrition information
How to interpret the numbers on packaged food.