1. Nutrients Nutrients substances that your body needs to grow, to repair itself and to supply you with energy Classified into 6 groups: • Carbohydrates • Proteins • Fats • Vitamins • Minerals • Water

2. Carbohydrates • The starches and sugars present in foods • Body’s main source of energy • Simple – sugars • Complex – starches • Fiber

3. Proteins • Nutrients that help build and maintain body cells and tissues • Made of long chains of amino acids • Used to make enzymes, hormones and antibodies • Supply body with energy

4. Fats • Lipid – fatty substance that does not dissolve in water • Some fat is necessary for good health • Types: • Saturated – solid at room temperature • Unsaturated – liquid at room temperature

5. Role of Fats • Provide a concentrated form of energy • Transport vitamins in blood stream • Needed for growth and healthy skin • Add flavor and texture to foods • Help satisfy hunger longer • Consuming excess can result in weight gain and obesity

6. Vitamins • Compounds that help regulate many vital body processes, including digestion, absorption and metabolism of other nutrients • Water-soluble and fat-soluble

7. Common Vitamins • C – protects against infection • A – keeps eyes moist and adjusts to darkness • D – bone and tooth development • Folic Acid – needed for cell replication and growth

8. Minerals • Substances that the body cannot manufacture but that are needed for forming healthy bones and teeth and for regulating many vital body processes

9. Common Minerals • Calcium – building bones and teeth • Iron – important for red blood cell function • Phosphorous – gives rigidity to bones, maintains pH balance in blood and essential in cell metabolism • Magnesium – aids in bone growth and muscle contraction

10. Which is healthier?

11. Water • Vital to every body function • Transports nutrients • Carries wastes • Important to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day

12. Questions • Compare the energy provided to the body by carbohydrates, proteins and fats. • What is the difference between vitamins and minerals? • What are the benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables?