Food - what is it? The meaning of the word "nutrition"

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Food - what is it? The meaning of the word "nutrition"
Food - what is it? The meaning of the word "nutrition"
Anonim

Many words in Russian have multiple meanings. The term "nutrition" is no exception and is used in various spheres of public life in accordance with its connotations. So what is nutrition?

Synonymous with food

Although the grammatical structure of the term initially implies a process or action (nutrition as the absorption of food), explanatory dictionaries of the Russian language state that nutrition is primarily food, food. Most often, the term is used in this sense in texts on medical topics with adjectives such as "enhanced", "he althy", "correct". This also includes the phrase "baby food", denoting a complex of specialized products suitable for feeding children from infancy to three years. As a rule, infant formula, granulated teas, meat and vegetable purees, as well as fermented milk products prepared using special technologies, are not consumed by adults.

food is
food is

System approach

In a broader sense, nutrition is a system of absorption of products with certain rules, restrictions, routines. An excellent example is diet,implying the existence of structured principles for the selection, preparation and consumption of food. Some diets are based on a simple system of rules: limit the amount of sweets in the diet, drink less alcohol, cook mainly in a steam and in the oven. Other diets schedule meals for a week, a month, or even indefinitely (a great example of temporary uncertainty is the famous Dukan diet). There are also systems that require unconditional obedience to the rules throughout life or the maximum possible period. These include vegetarianism of all varieties, veganism and a raw food diet.

food for the week
food for the week

Organizational issue

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of what nutrition is, since, in addition to the above meanings, the term can refer to the organization of food supply. An elementary example is the phrase "public catering", which is understood as a complex structure of networks of restaurants, cafes, canteens, pizzerias and other establishments that involve the absorption of food on their territory. An interesting neologism in Russian is the term "fast food" - this is an almost literal translation of the English term "fast food". Within the logical categories, public and fast food are related to each other as general and private. It is noteworthy that fast food eventually turns into a separate school of cooking: there are dishes that are prepared only in cafes and fast food restaurants.

the meaning of the word food
the meaning of the word food

When it's not about food

Meaningthe word under consideration is not only direct, but also figurative. In specialized vocabulary, food is the energy or fuel on which the equipment operates. The parallel between the meanings is obvious: just as a person cannot live and function normally without food, so a cable, engine or any technically complex device is not able to function without food.

Different points of view

Not all scientists have the same understanding of the meaning of the word "nutrition". Some linguists and philologists argue that this word can refer to any edible products, while others are sure that only ready-to-eat dishes can “nourish” a person, and not raw ingredients, which theoretically are also food. Moreover, real nutrition should give the consumer a maximum of useful substances necessary to keep his body in good shape and to ensure the normal functioning of all organs and systems. Of course, any points of view have the right to exist; it is quite possible that an innovative approach to the meaning of the term will soon be included in the texts of explanatory dictionaries of the Russian language.

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