Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) Practice Exam

What does nutrition study?

1. The taste preferences of different cultures

2. The science of how food components nourish the body

3. The environmental impacts of food production

4. The history of dietary practices

The correct answer is: The science of how food components nourish the body

The correct answer is grounded in the definition of nutrition itself. Nutrition is fundamentally the science that investigates how food components, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, contribute to the nourishment and overall health of the body. It looks at how these components interact with bodily systems, how they affect growth, maintenance, and health outcomes, and how they can prevent disease. While the other options touch on relevant topics related to food and culture, they do not encapsulate the primary focus of nutrition as a field of study. Understanding taste preferences of different cultures, analyzing environmental impacts, or exploring the history of dietary practices are all important areas of interest, but they fall outside the core scientific inquiry of how nutrients function within the body and affect health. Thus, the chosen answer accurately reflects what nutrition studies, focusing specifically on the physiological and biochemical aspects of food and its role in human health.