Biology - Nutrition (Nutrients and Types)
Living things/organisms need nutrients for energy and are used as a building block for growth. Nutrients help in the control of chemical processes in humans and are classified into two categories. We have the Micro(Minerals) and Macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins). So we will be looking at the importance and a few details about Nutrients.
What are Nutrients
Nutrients are food chemical components needed by living organisms for growth and maintenance. Our human system can not perform all breakdown of food needed, so most of the nutrient required by our bodies is gotten from the different types of food we take in. I did mention that they are two types of nutrients, which are based on the amount needed by the organism.
- Marco(large) Nutrients: These refer to large subsequent amounts of food substances needed by the body to provide energy. Examples are carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
- Micro(small) Nutrients: These refer to a small tiny amount of food substances needed in the body to maintain vital body functions and stabilize the metabolic body state.
Balance Diet
A balanced diet is a diet that is composed of all the important nutrients needed by the body. These nutrients will include water and roughages. A balanced diet goes with the age and medical situation of the individual.
| Category | Age(years) | Protein(g) | Fat(g) | Calories(kcal) | Calcium(mg) | Iron(mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children | 2 to 3 | 16.7 | 27 | 1060 | 600 | 9 |
| - | 4 to 6 | 20.1 | 25 | 1350 | 600 | 13 |
| - | 7 to 9 | 29.5 | 30 | 1690 | 600 | 16 |
| Boys | 10 to 9 | 39.9 | 35 | 2190 | 800 | 21 |
| - | 13 to 9 | 54.3 | 45 | 2750 | 800 | 32 |
| - | 16 to 9 | 61.5 | 50 | 3020 | 800 | 28 |
| Adult(males) | Above 18 | 25 | 60 | 2320 | 600 | 17 |
From the table above, you can see a summary of a recommended daily nutritional balanced diet for the different age groups.
Nutrients and their Functions
There are categorically seven important food nutrients, that is five major, and two essentials which have their specific function in the body.
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Fats
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Water
- Roughage.
We are going to end here, my next post will be on the different important nutrients and their functions. I will try to go as far as listing the sources of the nutrients.
Thanks for reading.
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