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 of respiration.

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

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

Dehydration

Facts about Vitamins

Water
soluble

Vitamin B
Vitamin C

Fat
soluble

Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K

Vitamins

Vitamins

Source

Function

Deficiency disease

Carrot, lover, fish liver

oil, green vegetables

For good night vision o Night blindness

Healthy skin
o Skin infections

Eggs, milk, yeast,

cereals

Release energy from

carbohydrates
Healthy nervous
system
Formation of red
blood cells

Fresh fruits, vegetables

Healing of wounds
o Scurvy (bleeding
Resistance to disease
gums)

o Beri-beri
o Anaemia

Vitamins

Source

Function

Deficiency disease

Made by your body in

sunlight, also found in
milk, eggs, fish liver oil

Strong bones and

teeth

o Rickets (soft bones

and dental decay)

Vegetable oil, whole

grains, nuts, wheat
germ

Maybe needed for

reproduction
Helps to fight against
diseases

o Sterility

Made in the human

intestines, also found in
egg yolk, green
vegetables

Clotting of blood

o Prolonged bleeding

Calcium
Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Cheese
Milk
Eggs

Helps form and

Rickets, Osteoporosis
maintain healthy teeth
and bones
Helps blood clotting and
construction of muscles

Sodium
Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Common salt
Salted eggs
Soy sauce

Regulate blood pressure Muscular cramps

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

Phosphorus
Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Milk
Cheese
Eggs
Meat
Vegetables

Formation of bones and Rickets

teeth

Potassium

Sources :

Functions:

Deficiency disease

Meat
Nuts
Bananas

Maintain body fluid,

proper function of
nerves, regulation of
heartbeat

Weak muscles, paralysis

Paralysis is loss of
muscle function for
one or more muscles