+ Nutrients Essentials for Life

+ Carbohydrates SimpleSugarsComplexStarches Fiber: Indigestible

+ Types of Simple Sugars

+ Types of Complex Carbohydrates Cellulose

+ Types of Carbohydrates Starch

+ If we can’t digest fiber, why do we need to eat it? Fiber provides bulk that helps move food through your intestines. The skin of fruits contain a fiber called pectin. Whole-grain breads and cereals contain cellulose, the fiber that forms a plant’s cell walls.

+ Proteins Help build muscle tissue Repair damage (heal from injury) Make important substances like hemoglobin, a special molecule in the blood that carries oxygen through the body. Are made of simpler substances called amino acids.

+ There are 20 different amino acids, which can combine like beads on a string to create millions of different proteins.

+ Essential Amino Acids Of the twenty, our bodies can make eleven of them from scratch by combining carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. The remaining nine can only be obtained from the food we eat. These nine are called “essential amino acids.” This is another reason why foods rich in proteins are important for a healthy body.

+ Contain all nine essential amino acids Found in foods that come from animals Complete Proteins Do not have all nine essential amino acids Found in foods that come from plants Incomplete Proteins

+ Fats Provide about twice as much energy to the body than either proteins or carbohydrates. Act as protective padding around the heart and other organs. Help insulate the body, so we don’t have to burn as much energy to stay warm. Pros Too much fat can cause obesity and heart disease. Cons

+ Kinds of Fats Saturated Mostly found in foods that come from animals Can turn into cholesterol – a substance that can collect inside the blood vessels and clog them. Unsaturated Mostly found in foods that come from plants

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+ Sources of Saturated Fats

+ Sources of Unsaturated Fats

+ Vitamins Chemicals that have been made by living organisms. 13 vitamins have been discovered so far. Each has an important role in the chemical reactions that go on in the body. They help build blood cells and chemicals that control the nervous system. The best source of vitamins are fruits and vegetables.

+ Minerals Chemicals that occur naturally in the environment, and come from the Earth. The body uses minerals to build bones, teeth, and blood cells. They also regulate the chemical and electrical signals that control the body. Minerals that we need only a tiny amount of are called trace minerals. (ex: copper, iodine, iron)

+ Water Over 70% of the human body is made of water. The body uses water to transport nutrients and wastes, control temperature, and carry out chemical reactions. Every day, the body loses more than 2 liters of water. This must be replaced! Drink 6-8 glasses of water each day.