Dietetics

/ˌdaɪəˈtɛtɪks/ noun

Definition

The science and practice of nutrition and dietary planning; the study of how food affects health and disease.

Etymology

From Greek 'dietetikos' + '-ics' (suffix forming the name of sciences/disciplines). Became a formal field of study in the early 20th century.

Kelly Says

Dietetics transformed from folk wisdom into hard science when researchers discovered vitamins in the early 1900s—suddenly you could measure what food actually did in the body.

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