Stimulation Web

 Components of Nutrients:

 

Nutrients and their importance:

●       Carbohydrates - found in foods such as pasta, rice and potatoes; carbohydrates are used as a source of energy in respiration in cells.

●       Fats - found in fatty meats, cheese and butter. Fats have a variety of roles in organisms including insulation, energy, waterproofing, structure and protection around delicate organs.

●       Protein - found in meat, fish and eggs. Proteins are broken down into amino acids in digestion and absorbed into the blood. They are then used in cells to produce new proteins by protein synthesis, where they are used as enzymes in reactions and for structure. They can also be used for signalling as hormones, and carrying other molecules, for example haemoglobin which carries oxygen in the blood.

 ●       Vitamins (C and D) - Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits and some other vegetables and is used in the synthesis of proteins which help make up the skin, ligaments and blood vessels. Vitamin C is also used in the repair of tissues. Vitamin D is found in dairy products, eggs and fish oil. It helps the uptake of calcium during digestion and is also a factor in maintaining healthy bones. Vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets, a condition that causes weak and soft bones, as well as deformities. It can also cause stunted growth in children as the bones cannot develop correctly.

●       Mineral salts (calcium and iron) - Calcium is needed for healthy bones and teeth and is found in dairy products and fish. It also has a role in blood clotting. Iron is found in red meat and some green vegetables. Iron is present in haemoglobin and plays an important role in transporting oxygen around the body in the blood for cells to use in respiration. A lack of iron leads to anaemia and can cause tiredness, as enough energy will not be produced.

●       Fibre (roughage) - Found in vegetables, fruit and whole grains. Fibre is not digested and thus helps food to move through the stomach and intestines, it also adds bulk.

●       Water - Comes from both drinks (80%) and food (20%). Water moves into the blood via osmosis during digestion and then into cells. Here it acts as a solvent in which chemical reactions occur. It also helps to maintain a constant temperature in the body due to its high specific heat capacity and is a metabolite.