Nutrition is a key component of an individual's healthy well-being. Many factors significantly influence nutrition and it is important to constantly keep it balanced. Having good nutrition is one of the main defenses against an innumerable number of diseases and pathologies that can harm the body. You might ask, “What is nutrition in practical terms and how can we maintain its balance?” Nutrition is defined as “the sum of the processes by which [a living being] takes in and uses food substances”. (Merriam-Webster, 2011). It is each individual's responsibility to ensure they consume sufficient nutrients to nourish the body and be cautious of harmful toxins. A child depends on his guardian to be taught how to have a well-nourished diet, as he is unable to maintain it on his own. It is extremely important for a pregnant mother to be well aware of the concepts of nutrition, as she must keep herself and the fetus healthy internally. If a mother is not very alert during pregnancy and is not well nourished, this can lead to many serious abnormalities in the growth of the fetus. More specifically, one disorder that will be explored in this essay is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS); caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Since alcohol is consumed at a developmental stage of the fetus, it can potentially cause many different complications in the unborn child. Fetal alcohol syndrome could be easily prevented with greater awareness of the problem and its defining characteristics, how it affects the fetus as it grows, and ultimately the long-term effects on the individual's life. The science behind FAS will be explained in depth to fully understand what it is and how it causes h...... middle of article ...... edicineNet Ltd.Riley, EP, & Vorhees, CV ( 1986). Manual of behavioral teratology. New York: Plenum. Ritchie, B. (2008). If he quacks like a duck. Retrieved from: http://www.faslink.org/index.htm. Ontario: AuthorSizer, F.S., Whitney, E. and Piche, L.A. (2012,2009) Nutrition Concepts and Controversies Second Canadian Edition. Toronto, Ontario: Nelson Education Ltd. Streissguth, A.P., Barr, H.M., Kogan, J., & Bookstein, F.L. (1996). Understanding the Occurrence of Secondary Disabilities in Clients with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE): Final Report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Grant No. R04|CCR008515 (technical report no. 96-06). Seattle: University of Washington, Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit. Wilson, J. G. & Fraser, F. C. (Eds.). (1977). Textbook of teratology: vol. 1. General principles, etiology. New York: Plenum.