"A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow, and reproduce."
The three main types of nutrients in food: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Carbohydrates: These are one of the three macronutrients and are molecules that provide energy to the body. They are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms and can be classified as simple sugars or complex carbohydrates.
Proteins: Proteins are complex molecules that are composed of amino acids. They are responsible for building and repairing tissues in the body and can be found in meat, dairy, and plant-based sources such as beans and lentils.
Fats: Fats are another important macronutrient that provides energy to the body. They are composed of fatty acids and are found in foods such as nuts, seeds, oils, and animal products.
Micronutrients: While not macronutrients, micronutrients are important to consider when learning about food chemistry. These are essential vitamins and minerals that the body needs in small amounts to function properly.
Digestion: Understanding how macronutrients are broken down and absorbed by the body is crucial in understanding their importance. The digestive process begins in the mouth and continues through the stomach and intestines.
Food sources: Learning about food sources that provide the different macronutrients helps individuals make informed decisions about what they eat. Examples include fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein-rich foods.
Dietary recommendations: Different individuals have different requirements for macronutrient intake based on age, gender, activity level, and other factors. Understanding recommended intake levels can help individuals create a balanced and healthy diet.
Nutritional analysis: Analyzing the nutritional content of different foods and meals is important in determining their macronutrient composition. Tools like food labels and nutrition calculators can be useful in this process.
Metabolism: Metabolism refers to the chemical reactions that occur in the body to provide energy and support bodily functions. Understanding how macronutrients are metabolized can help individuals make informed food choices.
Health implications: The intake of macronutrients can have a significant impact on overall health, both positive and negative. Understanding the health implications of macronutrient intake can help individuals make informed choices about what they eat.
Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient that provide the body with energy. They are found in foods like grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. There are two types of carbohydrates; simple carbohydrates which are quickly digested and absorbed, and complex carbohydrates which take longer to digest and absorb.
Proteins: Proteins are macronutrients that are essential for building and repairing muscle tissue, organs, and other structures in the body. They are found in a variety of foods, including meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, beans, and nuts.
Fats: Fats are a type of macronutrient that provides the body with energy and essential fatty acids. They are found in foods like meat, dairy products, nuts, seeds, and oils. There are different types of fats; saturated fats which are solid at room temperature and are mainly found in animal-based foods, and unsaturated fats which are liquid at room temperature and found in plant-based foods.
Fiber: Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that cannot be fully digested by the human body. It helps keep the digestive system healthy and can be found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
Water: Water is a macronutrient that affects many bodily functions. It helps regulate body temperature, transports nutrients, and removes waste products. Drinking plenty of water is crucial to maintaining good health.
"The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi, and protists."
"Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excreted by cells to create non-cellular structures, such as hair, scales, feathers, or exoskeletons."
"Some nutrients can be metabolically converted to smaller molecules in the process of releasing energy, such as for carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and fermentation products, leading to end-products of water and carbon dioxide."
"Essential nutrients for animals are the energy sources, some of the amino acids that are combined to create proteins, a subset of fatty acids, vitamins, and certain minerals."
"Plants require more diverse minerals absorbed through roots, plus carbon dioxide and oxygen absorbed through leaves."
"Fungi live on dead or living organic matter and meet nutrient needs from their host."
"Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is essential, meaning it must be consumed in sufficient amounts, to humans and some other animal species, but some animals and plants are able to synthesize it."
"Inorganic nutrients include nutrients such as iron, selenium, and zinc, while organic nutrients include energy-providing compounds and vitamins."
"A classification used primarily to describe nutrient needs of animals divides nutrients into macronutrients and micronutrients."
"Macronutrients are primarily used to generate energy or to incorporate into tissues for growth and repair."
"Micronutrients have subtle biochemical and physiological roles in cellular processes, like vascular functions or nerve conduction."
"Inadequate amounts of essential nutrients, or diseases that interfere with absorption, result in a deficiency state that compromises growth, survival, and reproduction."
"Consumer advisories for dietary nutrient intakes, such as the United States Dietary Reference Intake, are based on deficiency outcomes and provide macronutrient and micronutrient guides for both lower and upper limits of intake."
"In many countries, macronutrients and micronutrients in significant content are required by regulations to be displayed on food product labels."
"Nutrients in larger quantities than the body needs may have harmful effects."
"Edible plants also contain thousands of compounds generally called phytochemicals which have unknown effects on disease or health."
"A diverse class with non-nutrient status called polyphenols, which remain poorly understood as of 2017."
"Inadequate amounts of essential nutrients... result in a deficiency state that compromises growth, survival, and reproduction."
"Polyphenols... remain poorly understood as of 2017."