NUTRITION
All the nutrients the human body needs are available in the food ingested. A variety
of foods must therefore be ingested to meet all the body’s nutritional requirements.
Nutrients are essential for:
• tissue building, growth and repair
• energy supply
• protection against diseases
Nutrients are classified according to the amounts the body needs:
• Macronutrients are required in the body in large quantities
• Micronutrients are required in the body in small(er) quantities
MACRONUTRIENTS
Proteins
• Amino acids are the building blocks of all proteins.
• There are only 20 different amino acids in the human body from which thousands of
different proteins are built.
• Since the body can produce some amino acids while others not, they are divided into
two groups, i.e.:
Essential amino acids
9 amino acids that cannot be produced by the body and therefore must be ingested
daily as part of the diet.
Non-essential amino acids
Amino acids that can be produced by the body.
,Classification of proteins
Proteins are classified according to their amino acid content as complete or incomplete
proteins.
Complete proteins
- contain all 9 essential amino acids
- high biological value – can thus ensure the growth and repair of body cells
- sources: all food of animal origin as well as soybeans
Incomplete proteins
- have little/lack essential amino acids
- low biological value – cannot support growth
- sources: legumes, seeds and nuts
, Carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates are mainly derived from plants and include sugar, starch and cellulose
(fibre).
• During the digestive process, sugar and starch are broken down into glucose, which
is the body's main energy source. Glucose is the basic building block of all
carbohydrates.
• The body cannot digest and break down cellulose/fibre to glucose.
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