Nutrients Flashcards
What are nutrients?
Nutrients are substances found in food that are essential for our bodies to function. Nutrients provide energy and materials for cell function, growth and repair.
What are the five main groups of nutrients?
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Vitamins
Minerals
What are carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are sugars, starches and fibre found n foods like fruit vegetables grains and dairy products.
What are simple structure carbohydrates called?
monosaccharides and disaccharides like glucose and sucrose.
What are complex structure carbohydrates called?
Polysaccharides like starch and cellulose.
What are proteins?
Proteins are molecules that have many roles in cells. They are essential for cell growth and repair. Proteins are made of smaller units called amino acids.
What are Lipids?
Lipids are molecules also known as fats and oils. Lipids have important roles in cell membranes and some chemicals like hormones. Lipids can provide and store energy.
What are the two parts of Lipids?
Glycerol and fatty acids.
What are vitamins?
Vitamins are organic nutrients only required in small amounts. They are essential for many cell processes. Vitamins can be found in most foods.
What can a lack of some vitamins lead to?
Deficiency diseases like scurvy and rickets.
What are minerals?
Minerals are inorganic nutrients required in small amounts. They also are important for many cell processes such as nerve and muscle function and the immune system.
What structures are minerals essential for?
Haemoglobin, bone and teeth.
What are the two essential non-nutrients and what do they do for the body?
Water and fibre, they are essential for health.
What does water do?
Water makes up our cell cytoplasm and blood.
Water helps remove wastes from the body.
It keeps skin health, joints moving and regulates body temperature.
What does fibre do?
Fibre is important in the digestive system.
It helps material move through the digestive system.
If material moves too slowly, too much water can be removed which causes constipation which can damage the digestive system.
