Chapter 2:

NUTRITION
2.1: Classes of food

1. Food can be divided into seven classes:

a) carbohydrate
b) proteins
c) fats
nutrients
d) vitamins
(contains useful substances
e) minerals
required by our body)
f) fibre
g) water
*the process of using nutrients from food is
called nutrition.

A. Carbohydrates
-made up of elements carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen.
-supply energy for our body.
-present in various forms:
a) sugar (sweet& soluble in water)
ex. of sugar is glucose
-sugar can found in syrup, honey,
jam, sugar cane and fruits.

b) Starch (found in plants)

rice, bread, bananas, potatoes,
wheat.
c) Glycogen (animal starch) stored in
liver and muscles.
d) Cellulose (found in plant cell walls
and cannot be digested)
vegetables and fruits.
*starch, glycogen and cellulose are made up
of many glucose molecules joined together.

B. Proteins
-contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and
nitrogen (sometimes sulphur and
phosphorus)
-made up of large number of sub-units
called amino acids (some amino acid can
made by our body, while other must
obtained from food we eat).
-protein for growth and repair of body
tissues, for formation of enzymes,
hormones, haemoglobin and
antibodies.

C. Fats
-carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
-stored under the skin or around organs
in our body.
-helps to keep us warm (heat insulator)
-protects organs from damage
-helps to transport vitamins A, D, E, K.
-stored a lot of energy.
-consist of small units of fatty acids
combined with glycerol.
-fats are solid while oils are liquid at room
temperature.

D. Vitamins
- organic compounds needed in small
amounts by our body for health and
growth.
- lack vitamins can cause diseases.
- two groups:
1. water-soluble vitamins
*Vit. B & C
2. fat-soluble vitamins
*Vit. A, D, E, K.
(copy Table 2.1 Vitamins) page 41 text book

E. Minerals
- inorganic substances needed by our
body in small amounts for healthy
growth and development.
- lack minerals can cause diseases.
(copy Table 2.2 Minerals) page 42 text book

F. Fibre
- also known as roughage
- made up of cellulose from plant cell
walls
- fruits, vegetables and cereal
contains a lot of fibre.
- cannot digested by our body
- can prevent constipation
(fibre can hold a lot of water so that our
faeces remain soft and can pass from
our body easily.)

G. Water
- 70% of our body weight.
- main component of our blood and
body fluid
- helps to regulate our body
temperature.