LAURA CASTILLO 3B

BIOLOGY AND GEOLOGY 2ND EXAM:

NUTRIENTS

Nutrients are substances the body takes in to sustain the life of cells.

Nutrients can be classified as:

Organic nutrients: are complex molecules produced by living organisms. They

are needed to obtain energy and build the biomolecules that make up your
body. (Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and vitamins)

Inorganic nutrients: are simple molecules that can be found in living organisms
but have not been produced by them. These nutrients are essential to your
body but do not supply any energy. (Water, oxygen, mineral salts)

Organic biomolecules: (Carbohydrates, lipids, nutrients, nucleic acids)

All nutrients apart from oxygen can be found in food. Your body needs to
process the food eat in order to extract the nutrients and trans- port them to
your cells.

FOOD NUTRIENTS:

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates—or carbs—are water-soluble molecules composed of
carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. These:
FUNCTION:
1. Are the main source of energy for cells. (ENERGETIC)
2. Provide the raw materials from which cells can form biomolecules.
(STRUCTURAL)
CLASSIFICATION:

TYPES DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE

SUGAR Provides quick energy Glucose/
fructose
COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATESProvides slow energy Starch (almidón )
FIBER No digestive Cellulose
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Fats
Fats are water-insoluble molecules made up of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.
Fats are a type of lipid.
FUNCTIONS
1. Fats, the nutrients that contain the most energy, are stored in specialized
tissues and are the body’s main energy reserve.
2. Fats are used in the formation of biomolecules and are the main component
of cellular membranes.
CLASSIFICATION

TYPES DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES

FATS Unsaturated Not full of hydrogen, Oil
healthier
Saturated Full of hydrogen, Butter
less healthy
Tran Unsaturated Margarine
s transformed into
saturated
COLESTEROL Animal origin Eggs
food

Proteins
Proteins are molecules that are mainly made up of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and
nitrogen.
FUNCTIONS:
1. Play a key role in the synthesis of biomolecules—a process that the body
needs for growth and repair.
2. Can be used as an energy source if all the carbohydrates and fats have been
used up by the body.
CLASSIFICATION:

TYPES DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE

COMPLETE Contain all the amino acid Eggs, meet
(animal source)
INCOMPLETE It doesn’t contain all the Lettuce
amino acid
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Vitamins
Vitamins are organic components that the body either cannot pro- duce or
produces only in insufficient quantities. These must be obtained from food.
All vitamins: 1. Are needed in small quantities.
Are essential for regulating many cellular processes in the body. Vitamins are classified into two groups:

Fat-soluble vitamins, which are stored in the fatty tissues of your

body.
Water-soluble vitamins, which cannot be stored in the body and must be taken
daily.

VITAMIN MAIN SOURCE MAIN PROCESSES

A Carrot Eyesight
D Fish Healthy bones
E Vegetable oil Maintenance of red blood
cells and antioxidant system
K Vegetable and green-leafed Blood clotting and
green liver maintenance of circulatory
system
B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 Cereals Help in metabolism
B12 Eggs, red meat, fish… Nervous system, red blood

C Citrus fruit. Prospers Immune system and

formation of connective
tissue.

Water and Minerals

Foods are also a source of inorganic nutrients: water and minerals.
Water is essential to life:

It makes up two thirds of the human body.

The chemical reactions that make life possible occur in water. (REGULATORY)

The human body needs a daily intake of about 2 L of water, which is obtained from food and drink.

On the other hand, minerals:

Are nutrients that humans need in small quantities.

Are involved in the regulation of internal processes and used as building materials.
MINERALS MAIN SOURCE MAIN PROCESSES
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Calcium Milk and dairy products Bones

Phosphorous Calcium Memory
Iron Legumes Carry red blood cells to
carry the oxygen
Fluorine Toothpaste Healthy teeth and bones
Magnesium Nuts Muscle and nerve
function, cellular
metabolism
Iodine Iodized table salt Regulates thyroid
hormone production
Potassium Banana Helps not to produce
muscle contraction
Sodium Soy sauce Muscle and nerve
function
LAURA CASTILLO 3B