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Nutrition is the process by which living organisms take in and utilize food to grow, maintain themselves, and reproduce. Food provides the energy necessary for cellular activities, movement, and waste excretion. It also supplies the building blocks for cellular structures and functions.1

Organisms can be classified by their nutritional type. Autotrophs, like green plants and some bacteria, can produce their own food from inorganic compounds. In contrast, heterotrophs, which include animals and fungi, require both inorganic and organic compounds from external sources. Further classifications consider the energy source used, such as light (phototrophic) or chemical compounds (chemotrophic).2

Human nutrition specifically involves transforming food substances into body tissues and providing energy for physical and mental activities. This field is interdisciplinary, incorporating physiology, biochemistry, psychology, and anthropology, and aims to promote optimal health and prevent diseases related to diet.34

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