| There are five classes of nutrients - | | | | Proteins contain twenty different amino acids, of |
| carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and | | | | which the body is able to build by itself, the other |
| minerals. Nutrition is the name given to the series | | | | eight which the body cannot produce on its own |
| of processes by which the body consumes | | | | are called essential amino acids and it is necessary |
| nutrients and makes use of them for its survival. | | | | to obtain them from food. Among the best |
| The human body is made up mainly of oxygen | | | | forms of protein are red meat, fish, poultry, milk, |
| (65%), carbon (18%) and hydrogen (10%). Most | | | | cheese and other dairy products. Carbohydrates |
| of the remaining seven per cent of the body's | | | | are natural compounds consisting of carbon, |
| mass is composed of ten other elements - | | | | hydrogen and oxygen; they supply energy and |
| nitrogen (3%), calcium (1.4%), phosphorous | | | | include sugars in its various names, starchy foods |
| (1.0%), magnesium (0.50%), potassium (0.34%), | | | | such as potatoes, rice and wheat products such |
| sulphur (0.26%), sodium (0.14%), chlorine (0.14%), | | | | as pasta, cereal and bread. Fats and oils together |
| iron (0.004%) and zinc (0.003%). There are also | | | | make up what are known as lipids. Lipids like |
| trace elements some of which include copper, | | | | carbohydrates supply energy but in a different |
| iodine, chromium, arsenic, cobalt, fluorine, | | | | manner. They are more efficient than |
| manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silicon | | | | carbohydrates in producing energy but the release |
| and vanadium. | | | | of it takes longer. They also provide insulation for |
| Proteins are molecules which are built from | | | | the body and protect organs from toxins. |
| extremely gigantic chains of amino acids which are | | | | Vitamins and minerals are organic substances that |
| compounds of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen | | | | work with enzymes in regulating metabolic |
| and sulphur. Proteins promote natural growth in | | | | processes. The body can produce some but |
| bone and muscles, provide energy, contribute to | | | | generally is incapable of producing them by itself. |
| the immune system and produce enzymes. | | | | |