Chapter 2: Nutrition

Part I

2.1 Classes of Food

Why nutrition is important?

All living things need energy to continue their life
processes.
This energy comes from the food we eat.
Food is also need for growing and repairing body
tissues.
Energy is released from food by the process
ofrespiration.

The food can be classified into

seven classes:

Carbohydrate
Sources :

Functions:

Rice
Potatoes
Breads
Flour

To provide energy

Deficiency disease

Protein
Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Fish
Eggs
Milk
Beans

For growth and

the repair of body
tissues.
Prevent
Kwashiorkor

Kwashiorkor

Fat
Sources :

Functions:

Cheese
Butter
Cooking oil
Margarine

To provide twice as
much heat energy as
carbohydrates and to
insulate the body
against heat loss.

Deficiency disease

Vitamins

Sources :

Functions:

Fruits
Vegetables

To maintain health
and to prevent
various deficiency of
disease

Deficiency disease

Minerals
Sources :

Functions:

Minerals are
needed for normal
growth and
development of
the body.
They are needed in
small quantities

Deficiency disease

Fibre or roughage
Sources :

Functions:

Vegetables
Fruits
Cereals

To prevent
constipation and to
help in peristalsis

Water
Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Water
Fruits
Beverages

Dehydration
To regulate body
temperature
To maintain the
liquid condition of
the cells and
medium of various
chemical reactions

Facts about Vitamins

Vitamin
s

Water
solubl
e

Vitamin B
Vitamin C

Fat
solubl
e

Vitamin
Vitamin
Vitamin
Vitamin

A
D
E
K

Vitamins

Source

Function

Deficiency disease

Carrot, lover, fish

liver oil, green
vegetables

For good night

vision
Healthy skin

o Night blindness
o Skin infections

Eggs, milk, yeast,

cereals

Release energy
from
carbohydrates
Healthy nervous
system
Formation of red
blood cells

o Beri-beri
o Anaemia

Fresh fruits,
vegetables

Healing of
wounds
Resistance to
disease

o Scurvy (bleeding
gums)

Vitamins

Source

Function

Deficiency disease

Made by your body Strong bones and o Rickets (soft

in sunlight, also
teeth
bones and dental
found in milk, eggs,
decay)
fish liver oil

Vegetable oil,
whole grains, nuts,
wheat germ

Made in the human Clotting of blood

intestines, also
found in egg yolk,
green vegetables

Maybe needed
for reproduction
Helps to fight
against diseases

o Sterility

o Prolonged
bleeding

Calcium
Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Cheese
Milk
Eggs

Helps form and

maintain healthy
teeth and bones
Helps blood
clotting and
construction of
muscles

Rickets, Osteoporosis

Sodium
Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Common salt
Salted eggs
Soy sauce

Muscular cramps
Regulate blood
pressure
Maintain the
function of muscles
and nerves

Iron
Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Liver
Eggs
Spinach
Lean red meat
Salmon

Formation of
haemoglobin

Anaemie

Iodine
Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Seafood
Leafy vegetables

Synthesis of
thyroxine
(hormone that
increases the rate of
cell metabolism and
regulates growth)

Goitre

Phosphorus
Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Milk
Cheese
Eggs
Meat
Vegetables

Formation of bones Rickets

and teeth

Potassium

Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Meat
Nuts
Bananas

Maintain body fluid, Weak muscles,

proper function of
paralysis
nerves, regulation
of heartbeat
Paralysis is loss
of muscle function
for one or more
muscles