Nutrients

Key words

• Diet : the food that you eat

• Raw materials : A substance used to make other substance
• Carbohydrate: A nutrient that is as the main source of energy
• Protein : A nutrient used for growth and repair
• Vitamin : A nutrient needed in small quantities for health.
• Mineral : An element that is nutrient needed in small quantities for health
(e.g,calcium). Minerals are found in food and soils as compound called mineral
salts .
• Oil : A liquid fat .
• Lipid : Fats and oils are part of a large group of similar substances called lipids.
• Fibre : A substance found in food that is not used up by the body . It helps to
keep our intestines clean .
• Constipation : When intestines get blocked .
What does our
food
• contain ?
In this lesson we are going to talk about the
seven basic nutrients you get from your food
and their functions .
 The word diet means what you eat .

WhatYour
do diet provides raw materials for
scientists
your body
mean by
diet ?
What is a nutrient ?

A substance needed in the diet to

provide raw materials to make new
substances and for energy release .
What does your body use nutrients for?

• Nutrients are needed for energy (to move , keep warm , make new
materials ) . Growth . Repair and health .
• There are seven main
classes of nutrients that
the body needs
• There are
carbohydrates ,proteins ,
lipids ,water ,vitamins
,fibre ,minerals .
Carbohydrates

• Two main carbohydrates in food are starch and sugars

Lipids (fats and oils )

• There are many different sorts of fats . Some are solid and some are
liquid at room temperature . We call liquid fats oils .fats and oils are
sometimes called lipids
Fibre

• We also need fibre . This is made of plant cell walls ( Cellulose) and is
not used by the body , but it keeps us healthy by helping food move
through the intestines and stopping them getting blocked
(constipation )
• Wholewheat cereals and whole meal bread contain a lot of fibre .
Water

• Water is also very important since about 65 per cent of you is water
Water :
• Acts as a lubricant
• Dissolves things so that they can be carried around the body .
• Fills up cells so that they hold their shape .
• Cools you down , when you sweat .
How are water and fibre helpful for
preventing constipation ?
• Fibre helps undigested food pass through the intestines by stopping
the intestines getting blocked. Water helps to lubricate the food.
• .Explain why you should drink plenty of water in hot weather.
because you lose water when you sweat and water is very important in
your body for dissolving things, acting as a lubricant and filling up cells
Food labelling

• Nutrition information labels show the amounts of different nutrients

in a food .
• Nutrition labels also show the amount of fibre and the amount of
energy stored in food .
• Food labels must have a list of ingredients and must point out
substances that people may by allergic to . (e.g. nuts)
• Labels also show warnings about substances that can cause
problems. For example , if a drink contains a lot of caffeine , the lable
will state .’Not suitable for children .pregnant women and persons
sensitive to caffeine .
.