NUTRIENTS & CLASSIFICATION

>NUTRIENTS:

Nutrients (NEW tree unts) are substances in foods that provide energy and materials for cell development, growth, and repair.

>CLASSES OF NUTRIENTS:

Six kinds of nutrients are available in food.

1) Proteins

2) Carbohydrates

3) Fats

4) Vitamins

5) Minerals

6) Water

Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and fats all contain carbon and are called organic nutrients. In contrast, inorganic nutrients, such as water and minerals, do not contain carbon. Foods containing carbohydrates, fats, and proteins need to be digested or broken down before your body can use them. Water, vitamins, and minerals don’t require digestion and are absorbed directly into your bloodstream.

>PROTIENS:

Your body uses proteins for replacement and repair of body cells and for growth. Proteins are large molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sometimes sulfur. A molecule of protein is made up of a large number of smaller units, or building blocks, called amino acids. Your body needs only 20 amino acids in various combinations to make the thousands of proteins used in your cells.Most of these amino acids can be made in your body’s cells, but eight of them cannot. These eight are called essential amino acids. They have to be supplied by the foods you eat. Complete proteins provide all of the essential amino acids. Eggs, milk, cheese, and meat contain complete proteins. Incomplete proteins are missing one or more of the essential amino acids. If you are a vegetarian, you can get all of the essential amino acids by eating a wide variety of protein-rich vegetables, fruits, and grains.