Foods and Nutrition
THE SIX NUTRIENT GROUPS
 Carbohydrates
 Fats
 Proteins
 Vitamins
 Minerals
 Water
Elements – simplest substance from which all
matter is formed
 Matter – anything that takes up space and has a
measurable quantity
 Atom – smallest part of an element
 Molecule – smallest amount of a substance that
has all the characteristics of the substance
 Compound molecule – atoms of different
elements bonded together
 Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and
water are compounds
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Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and cobalt
common, least 25 chemical elements needed
Minerals are elements

Build and repair body tissues

Body continues to produce new cells until death
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
Need more during prenatal period, infancy, adolescence
Replace old cells
Repair damaged cells
Regulate body processes
Chemical reactions in body use nutrients
 pH balance in blood, digestion, circulation of body
fluids, metabolism


Provide energy
Quality of food affects energy level
Necessary for all life processes (breathe, pump blood,
muscles move, body heat
 Carbohydrates and fats main energy source
 Protein other source of energy


 Kilocalories
- amount of heat needed to raise
one kilogram of water one degree Celsius
 Also called calories
 1 gram of carbohydrates = 4 kilocalories of
energy
 1 gram of fats = 9 kilocalories of energy
 1 gram of proteins = 4 kilocalories of energy
 Water, vitamin, minerals have no energy
value therefore no calories
 Alcohol provides 7 calories per gram

Not a nutrient because it does not promote
growth: it’s a drug
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Digestion- process by
which your body breaks
down food, and nutrients
on food into simpler
substances
Mechanical digestion –
happens as food is crushed
and churned
Chemical digestion – food
is mixed w/ acids and
enzymes
Enzymes- protein
produced by cells that
cause a specific chemical
reactions
Gastrointestinal (GI)tract –
muscular tube leading
from the mouth to the
anus
 Absorption
– passage of nutrient from the
digestive tract into the circulatory or
lymphatic system
 Most absorption happens in small intestines

Covered with villi – tiny, fingerlike projections
that give velvety texture
 Water-soluble

Dissolve in water (capillaries absorb most water)
 Fat-soluble

nutrients
nutrients
Dissolve in fat (lacteals absorb fat)
 Absorption
completed in large intestines
 All
the chemical changes that occur as cells
produce energy and material needed to
sustain life
 Cells use compounds for energy or store to
replace cells
 Stores energy as adenosine triphosphate
(ATP)
 Waste removed through urinary system

Eating habits



What you eat and how you eat
Need fiber
Emotions
Fear, anger, and tension can lead to digestive
problems
 Reduce stress


Food Allergies
Reaction to the immune system to a certain proteins
found in food.
 Food sensitivity – reactions to food that do not involve
the production of antibodies by the immune system


Physical activity


Helps with digestion and metabolism
Strengthen muscles in internal organs
What is it?
Diarrhea
Constipation
Indigestion
Heartburn
Ulcer
Gallstones
Diverticulitis
Treatments