Human Ecology:Nutrients - Macronutrients

  • Nutrients - Nutrients are chemical substances found in food that are used to keep the body healthy.Nutrients and separated into two(2) categories - Macro/Micronutrients.

  • Food - Food is any liquid or solid which when swallowed and absorbed or injected into the body, provides the body with one(1) or more nutrient(s).

  • Diet - Diet includes the food a person normally eats and a balanced diet is one which contains all the nutrients in the correct proportions for a person's needs.

  • Macronutrients - Macronutrients are nutrients needed in the body in relatively larger amounts. Examples of these are proteins, carbohydrates and fat.

  • Micronutrients - Micronutrients are nutrients needed in the body in relatively smaller amounts. Examples of these are vitamins and minerals.

Protein

Proteins are made of long chains of amino acids. There are 20 amino acids. There are 2 types of amino acids,essential amino acids because they can’t be made by the body and must be obtained from food. Complete proteins provide adequate amounts of all 9 essential amino acids, while incomplete proteins lack in one of more essential amino acids. Complete proteins are animal products (beef,chicken) with the exception of some plant products such as soyabean and chia seeds.Incomplete proteins are plant products (peas,beans,nuts,seeds).

Function: builds and repairs body tissue supplies energy

Deficiency: Protein Energy Malnutrition

Kwashiorkor, Marasmus

Excess: Weight Gain

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are divided into two(2) major groups: simple and complex.Simple carbs are known as sugars and complex carbs are known as starches and fibres. Carbohydrates are known as protein sparers.

Simple Carbohydrates - sugars

Complex Carbohydrates - starches, fibres

Monosaccharides - fructose, glucose, galacose

Disaccharides - sucrose, lactose, maltose

Polysaccharides - starch, cellulose

Function: supplies, energy

Deficiency: Low energy

Excess: Type 2 Diabetes

Fat

— Saturated Fat : (bad fat)

  • animal products : lamb, pork, bacon, butter

  • solid at room temp.

— Unsaturated fat (good fat)

  • plant products : vegetable oils, fish (sardine, tuna)

  • liquid at room temp.

— Trans Fat (bad fat)

eg fried foods, cookies, potato chips

  • begins as unsat. fat, hydrogen is added in the manufacturing process and it becomes a saturated fat

Function: transporting fat soluble nutrients

Deficiency: Nutrient deficiency

Excess: Heart Disease