CHAPTER 2:

NUTRITION

Nutrients are chemicals that
present in the foods which
required by our body.

The process of obtaining and
using nutrients from food is called
nutrition.



IMPORTANCE
OF
FOODS
Repairs and
replaces
damaged tissues
Provides energy
for carrying out
work
Builds
healthy
bodies
Builds new
cells
Warms the
body
Growth
Foods can be classified into
seven main classes:

Classes of foods
mineral
protein
vitamin fibre
carbohydrate
fat
water
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are organic
compounds made up of
carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen.
There are three types of
carbohydrate:
i) starch iii) cellulose
ii) sugar
Sugars are found in honey,
sugarcane and fruits.
Example: glucose
Starch are found in rice, bread and
potatoes.
Cellulose occurs in plant cell walls.
Main function of carbohydrates is to
supply energies to our body.
Excess carbohydrates stored as fat
in our body.
PROTEINS
Proteins are organic
compounds containing
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
and nitrogen.
A molecule of protein is
made up of a large number
of subunits called amino
acids.
Food rich in protein includes fish,
milk, meat, egg white and nuts
(groundnuts and soya bean).
Proteins are needed for growth and
repairing the body tissues.
It also required for the formation of
enzymes, hormones, hemoglobin and
antibodies in our body.
Sometimes, proteins provide energy
to our body when needed.
FATS
Fats are compound of carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen.
Fat is stored under the skin or
around organs in our body.
Food rich in fats includes
palm oil, coconut oil, fish oil,
butter, fatty meat and egg yolk.
The functions of fats include:
(a) supplying energy
(b) as an insulator of heat to
reduce heat loss from the body
(c) protecting the internal organs
such as the kidneys and the
heart
(d) dissolving vitamins such as
vitamins A, D, E and K in the body
Fat consists of smaller units of
fatty acids combines with glycerol.

Fats are solid while oils are liquid
at room temperature.
MINERALS

Minerals are inorganic substances
needed by our body in small
amounts for healthy growth and
development.

Can be obtained from vegetables,
milk, salt, cheese and prawns.
FIBRE

Also known as roughage.
Made up of cellulose from plant
cell walls.
Foods contain high fibre are
fruits, vegetables and cereals.
Fibre cannot be digested by our
body.
Fibre can hold a lot of water so
that our faeces remain soft and
can pass from our body easily.

Therefore, fibre can prevent
constipation.

VITAMINS
Vitamins are organic compounds
needed in small amounts for health
and growth.

Vitamins divided into 2 groups:
i) water-soluble vitamins (B & C)
ii) fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, &
K.
WATER
Makes up about 70% of our body
weight (main component of our blood
and body fluid).

Water helps to regulate our body
temperature.

Can be obtained from fruits such as
watermelon, starfruit, etc.