In a very real sense, we are what we eat. The proteins, carbohydrates, sugars, vitamins and minerals in our diet are broken down by digestion and rebuilt into the complex assemblies of macromolecules that make up our bodies. An understanding of the science of nutrition can explain why a well-balanced diet can translate into a healthy body.
But there are times when food turns into the enemy. To people with food allergies, what should otherwise be a nutritious meal can become life-threatening. Certain food additives have been banned, because of fears they might cause cancer. And with the advent of genetically modified (GM) food, the potential impact may spread well beyond the health of our own species. Media scare-stories are powerful and disturbing. Many people worry about the food they eat and the processes used to produce it. But what are the actual risks, and how much of it is hype? Once again, an understanding of the science can help you to find out.
Also in this section, read the debate surrounding food ethics. We asked a scientist, a GM farmer, a protester and an organic farmer to tell us their ethical beliefs about the modification of food.
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