FOOD

BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES

Biological molecules are organic molecules found in living organisms. They all contain carbon atoms.
Organisms need these molecules to provide energy for life processes and to provide raw materials
for the growth and repair of tissues. There are four main groups of organic molecules used by
living organisms

1. Carbohydrates
2. Lipids (fats)
3. Proteins
4. Nucleic acids

CARBOHYDRATES

They are organic compounds made up of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen
and oxygen atoms are present in the same fixed ratio of 2:1. Carbohydrate foods mainly come
from plants and are a good source of energy for the body. They only make up about 1% of the
body mass in humans.

Types

i. Monosaccharides: e.g. glucose, fructose (fruit sugar)

ii. Disaccharides: e.g. sucrose (table sugar), maltose, lactose (milk sugar)
iii. Polysaccharides: e.g. cellulose, starch, glycogen

Monosaccharides and disaccharides are soluble in water and can be transported easily. Glucose
dissolves easily in the cytoplasm of the cells. It also has an osmotic effect (when cells lose water,
glucose is also lost). Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates that are insoluble and can be used
as energy stores. They also form important structures such as plant cell walls which are made of
cellulose.

Functions

⮚ Forms supporting structures

⮚ Important source of energy (1g of carbohydrates releases 17 kJ of energy)
⮚ Helps in formation of nucleic acids
⮚ Synthesize lubricants like mucus
⮚ Produce nectar in flowers
Testing for the presence of starch

2ml of sample is taken in a test tube. A few drops of iodine solution are added. If starch is
present, the yellow brown of iodine will change to blue black.

Testing for the presence

Glucose is called a reducing sugar because the test for glucose involves reducing the alkaline copper
(II) sulphate to copper (I) oxide. A spatula measure of glucose is taken in a test tube and 2ml of
water is added. Several drops of Benedict’s solution are added to colour the mixture blue. A water
bath is prepared by half filling a beaker with water and heating it on a tripod stand. The test
tube is then placed in the beaker of water and water allowed to boil (using a water bath is safe
and ensures uniform heating). After a few seconds, the clear blue solution starts to change colour
to brick red precipitate of copper oxide.

LIPIDS

These are organic compounds made of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen but contain much
less oxygen in proportion to hydrogen. They make up about 10% of our body mass. They are
insoluble in water hence are excellent stores and form a barrier between a cell and its
surroundings.

Building blocks of lipids

Each molecule of lipids is made

up of a molecule of glycerol and

three molecules of fatty acids.

Functions

⮚ efficient storage and source of energy (1g = 39kJ)

⮚ insulating material to prevent heat loss
⮚ solvent for fat soluble vitamins
⮚ constituent of cell membrane and cytoplasm
⮚ restricts water loss from the skin
⮚ provides electrical insulation for nerves

Testing for the presence of lipids

Take 2ml of sample in a test tube. Add equal amounts of water and ethanol. Shake vigorously. If
lipids are present, a white emulsion is formed.

PROTEINS

They are the largest and complicated of all biological molecules. They make up about 18% of our
body mass. All cells contain proteins. Many compounds in the body are made from proteins. These
are complex organic substances containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Phosphorus and
Sulphur may also be present.

Building blocks of proteins

Each protein is build up from simpler compounds known as amino acids. These are linked together in
long chains, held together by peptide bonds. By changing the sequence and number of amino acids,
the structure of a protein molecule changes. There are about 20 amino acids needed for protein
formation. Humans can make about half of these amino acids but the other 10 have to be taken as
part of the diet. These 10 amino acids are called essential amino acids.

Functions

⮚ helps in the formation of cell membrane and cytoplasm

⮚ needed for growth and repair of worn out tissues
⮚ hormones and enzymes are protein in nature
⮚ antibody formation
⮚ source of energy ( 1g = 18kJ)

Deficiency

Lack of protein intake causes a disease called kwashiorkor. It presents as distended belly, wasting
of muscles, loss of belly fat, generalized weakness and flaky skin.

Testing for the presence of proteins

Take a sample in a test tube and add equal amounts of sodium hydroxide. Add a few drops of
copper sulfate and mix well. If protein is present, the color will change to purple. (We can use
prepared Biuret solution also).
NUCLEIC ACIDS

They are made up of subunits called nucleotides. Each nucleotide is made up of a nitrogenous base,
a sugar and a phosphate group. There are two types of nucleic acids found in humans:

i. DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid

ii. RNA – ribonucleic acid

In DNA, there are four different nucleotides each with a different nitrogenous base. It has a
double stranded helix structure and contains the sugar deoxyribose. RNA, on the other hand has
one strand and contains the sugar ribose.

All living things are made up of molecules organised in a way so that they can only carry out the
characteristics of life. We need food for three main reasons.

1. To supply the fuel for energy.

2. To provide minerals for growth.
3. To fight diseases and keep our bodies healthy.

BALANCED DIET

The food we eat is called our diet, an adequate diet provides sufficient energy for the
performance of metabolic work. A balanced diet provides the correct amount needed to carry out
life processes, the seven basic group are:

● Carbohydrate.
● Lipids.
● Proteins.
● Vitamins.
 ● Minerals.
● Fibre.
● Water.

In conditions of undernutrition the first concern is the provision of an adequate diet to avoid the
man's nutrition a balanced diet must be provided.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS

These are essential for the body to be able to use other nutrients efficiently, they are needed in
only very small amounts there are many different vitamins and minerals which are usually provided
in foods.

Vitamin A (Retinol)

It is a fat soluble vitamin needed to make a light sensitive material in the retina, it also protected
the surface of the eye. Sources included: fish liver oil, carrots, dairy products and eggs. Lack of
vitamin A can cause night blindness.

Vitamin D (Calciferol)

It is also a fat soluble vitamin that helps the bone to absorb calcium and phosphorus. Sources
include: fish liver oil, it can be under the skin when exposed to sunlight. Deficiency of vitamin D
causes crinkets and decayed teeth.

Vitamin B

It is a collection of several different vitamins termed as the vitamin B group

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

It helps in cell respiration and is found in yeast extract and cereals, lack of vitamin b1 causes a
disease called berri-berri.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)

It also helps in cell respiration, deficiency caused poor growth and dry skins, important food
sources are green vegetables, eggs and fish.

Vitamin B3 (niacin)
It helps in cell respiration and is found in liver, meat and fish. Lack of vitamin b3 causes pellagra
(dry red skin, poor growth and digestive disorder).

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

It is a water soluble vitamin that sticks cells together, lining surfaces such as the mouth,
important food sources are fresh fruits and vegetables. Deficiency of vitamin c causes scurvy
(bleeding gums).

Iron

It is needed to make the haem part of haemoglobin in the red blood cells that help carry oxygen,
it is found in red meat, liver, egg, spinach and apples. Lack of iron causes anaemia.

Calcium

It helps in the making of bones and teeth, important sources include dairy products, fish, bread
and vegetables. Deficiency of calcium causes rickets.

Fibre

It is the indigestible part of the food largely cellulose, from plant cell walls which provides the
facies, it enables food to be mixed with digestive juices , plenty of fiber in the diet streams the
muscles in the gut wall and helps fiber also prevents colon cancer.

Water

It forms about 70% of the human body, two-third of this water is found in the cytoplasm of cells
and the other one-third is in the tissue fluid and blood plasma. Humans lose about 1.5 litres of
water everyday in urine, faeces, sweat and exhaled air, this must be replaced by water in the
diet, it can be obtained in food and drinks, water is also produced by metabolic processes inside
the body. It is an important component of chemical reactions, it form digestive juice and part of
lubricants in the joints, it is also the transporting agent in the body and helps to regulate body
temperature.

DIGESTION