NUTRITION

 NUTRITION EDUCATION

       The human body can synthesize thousands of different substances that are required for growth, development, energy and optimal health, in order to meet the demand of the body, food, water and oxygen must be ingested. Nutrition has been defined the process by which the human body uses food for growth, maintenance and repair. Nutrition is the study of how food and drink affects our bodies with a special regard to the essential nutrients necessary.

        Nutrition is the study of nutrients in food, how the body uses them and the relationship between diets.

        Nutrition is the screener that interprets nutrients and other substance in food in relation to maintenance growth.

       Nutrition is nourishment or energy that is obtained from consumed or the process of consuming the proper amount of food.

FOOD NUTRIENTS

   A nutrients is the chemical substances found in foods that can be utilized by the human body through anabolic or catabolic process to release energy, provide materials for building and maintenances of body tissue or supply substances that act in regulating body processes

       Nutrients are compounds in foods essential to life and healthy providing us with energy to regulate chemical processes.

       Most animals are heterotrophic organisms and are incapable of manufacturing their own food, hence they must obtain their food either by eating animals or green plants. A few animals are saprozole that is they feed on dead organic matter. These animals include earthworms which feed on organic matter in the soil and termites which feed on wood debris. Animals can be classified into five (5) groups based on their feeding relationship.

1. Fungiores
2. Insectivores
3. Omnivores
4. Carnivores
5. Herbivores

Fungivores:- These are animals that feed on fruits e.g. parrots squirrels 

Insectivores:- They are animals that feed on insects only 

Omnivores:- These animals feed on both plants and animals e.g. Man

Carnivores:- Are animals that feed on other animals e.g Dogs, lions and tigers etc

SOURCES OF FOOD

There are six major nutrients which can be obtained from plants and animals and are broken down in to the following basic group

1. Carbohydrates
2. Proteins
3. Fats and Oil
4. Vitamins
5. Minerals salts
6. Water

Carbohydrates:- These are starches food contain starches, sugar and cellulose example are Millet, Cassava, Yam, Sweet, honey, jam rice, etc

STRUCTURE OF CARBOHYDRATE

Carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen which are combined to form with the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen as in water, that is, carbohydrates always have twice as many hydrogen as oxygen atoms

• Simple sugar
• Complex sugar
• Starch and cellulose

Simple sugar:- e.g. glucose and has a formula C6HI206

Complex sugar:- these are disaccharides which are a condensation of two simple sugar molecules. The chemical formula is slightly more complicated that is C12H24OII examples include sucrose, commonly known as cane sugar, maltose or malt sugar and lactose or milk sugar. 

          Starch and cellulose:- These substances are known as polysaccharides and are formed by the condensation of a large number of monosaccharide molecules.

FUNCTIONS OF CARBOHYDRATES

The main function of carbohydrates is to supply energy for the body Each gram of carbohydrate contains approximately 4 kilocalories, and during metabolism carbohydrates are completely oxidized to carbondioxide and water

1. Carbohydrates are the chief source of energy within the cell.  When a sugar molecular deposits impose tissues or e is combined with oxygen, energy is released and waste products carbohydrates and water are formed
2. Carbohydrates when taken in exceed immediate need the excess is stored in the body as food reserves. This is the form of glycogen and is usually store in liver and muscles, because the body can only store limited amount of glycogen, excess carbohydrates are usually converted into fats and oils and stored in special cells known collectively as adipose tissues or fat deposits
3. Carbohydrates as fuel also have other functions in the body for examples. Chain of monosaccharide units with protein and lipids form glycoprotein and glycolipids in cell membranes.

PROTEINS

The main sources of protein are:- meat, eggs, kidney, fish, milk beans, (soya beans is the first class type of protein) because it has a high amount of protein compare to other substance present.

STRUCTURE OF PROTEIN

Protein composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Some proteins contain a little sulphur and phosphorus. Protein is composed of chemical units called amino acids. The amino acids are of many different sequences to make a protein. It has been estimated that there are about 2000 different kinds of protein. It has been estimated that there are about 2000 different kinds of proteins in the human body which take such diverse forms as hair, finger, nails, cartilages and muscles. Every type of species of animal and plants and man also has its own specific forms of protein. Differences between species are due to largely to the differences in their proteins.

FUNCTIONS OF PROTEINS

1. Proteins are the responsible for the functioning of our bodies.
2. Proteins are the building substance which supply building materials to build up cells and replace old ones
3. Proteins are used as fuel, especially during starvation and fasting, but their main function is as s source of amino acids. These are used to synthesize new products for growth and repair 
4.  Proteins substance are known as enzyn.es and they play vital role in body chemistry. Enzymes are biological catalysis which in minute amounts control the speed and direction of chemical reactions of metabolism.
5. Twenty (20) amino acids are need by humans. Eleven (11) of which can be synthesized by the body and are called non-essential amino acids. And the remaining nine (9) amino acids are must be obtained from the diet and as called essential amino acids.
6. Animal products such as milks, meat, eggs, and cheese are good sources of protein because they all contain the essential amino acids. They are called "complete protein"
7. Most of the plants proteins are incomplete because they lack more essential amino acids. More ever amino acids can be obtained if a variety of plants are eaten.

FATS AND OILS

Fats and oil are called lipids, Lipids are major component of cell membranes and we will soon become ill if we eat no lipids.

SOURCES OF ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

1. Oil-rich fish
2. Nuts oil seed
3. Butter
4. Lard
5. Palm oil
6. Cod-liver oil
7. Sun flower oil etc

STRUCTURE OF LIPIDS

    Fats and oils contain carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, but the proportion oxygen is small. The main different between fats and oils. The main different between fats and oil is the liquid while facts are solid fat the temperature. Fats and oils form stable emulsion when with dilute alkalis.

FUNCTION OF FATS AND OILS

1. Provide energy and heat
2. Serve as picking material in the body and support certain organs e.g kidney, eyes, most internal organs.
3. Transport of fat soluble vitamins.
4. Essential for the formation of nerve sheet
5. Act as lubricant in the intestine and facilities the passage of food along the digestive tract.
6. Add flavor to food when used in cooking.

VITAMINS

   These constitute a group of organic compound which are essential in the diet in small quantities for normal growth, maintenance, of health, and reproduction. Vitamins requirements vary from person to person. However, human must have most of their vitamins supplied in diet.

     

          There are 13 compounds which have been classified as true vitamins that is a deficiency of the compound results in deficiency disease with characteristic symptoms. The more important are Vitamin -A  Vitamin -B Vitamin -C Vitamin -D Vitamin -E Vitamin -K Vitamin B is a complex of vitamins range from B1, To B12 out these B1, B2 are the most important. Vitamin A, D, E and K are called fat-soluble vitamins

MINERAL  SALTS

      Mineral salts regulate the metabolism of the body and are essential constituent of many vital substances within the body.

FUNCTIONS OF MINERALS SALTS

Minerals perform two functions in the body:

1. They are aid in body metabolism in their role as regulators of various biological functions
2. They are used as structural components about 4 to 5% of the total body weight is made up of mineral elements.

Mineral elements can be categorized into two broad divisions namely: 

• The major minerals elements
• The trace elements

The major elements are those needed in the diet at a relatively high level. They include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride. They trace elements are those needed in a relatively small quality. They include iron, copper, iodine, fluorine-zinc, chromium, cobalt, magnets, and selenium.

THE MOST IMPORTANT MINERAL SALTS

        Calcium: This is necessary for the coagulation of blood, the proper functioning of the heart and nervous system and normal contraction of muscles. It is most important functions, how ever is to aid in the formation of bones and teeth.

THE CHIEF SOURCES OF CALCIUM ARE

Milk, cheese, eggs, fruits, green vegetables and almonds 

       Sodium, potassium and chorine: These are closely related in the body and occur as ions in the body fluids, sodium in the extra cellular fluids and potassium intra cellular.

      Together with other salts those of sodium and potassium regulate the acid-base balance. Chlorine is a constitute element of hydrochloric acid which is important in digestion. Potassium and chorine occur in particularly all nature foods. In most foods however, there is more potassium than sodium.

        Those minerals salts needs in minutes qualities are "VANADIUM" and "SELENIUM and are believed to play an important role in the body. Mineral deficiencies leads to some disorders in humans. Therefore it is necessary to include adequate minerals in our diet.

WATER

     

    This is a nutrient that is necessary for life. An individual can only survive for a few days without water. water makes up a large part of protoplasm it is the solvent for many substances which are conveyed to and from various parts of the body. Water requirements of the body depends somewhat on the size of the individual. water is lost by excretion from the kidneys, perspiration on the skin, small amounts in in stool, and water vapor in the expired air. An approximately 2½ liters of water is lost by an average adult daily. Under normal circumstances 5 to 6 glasses of water is adequate in a day, while the world heath organization recommends at least eight cups each day. The kidney is the major organ that strives to maintain the normal water level in the body 

THE MAIN FUNCTION OF WATER INCLUDE

• If is an important constituent of the protoplasm
• It acts as a powerful ironing agents
• It serves as the medium in which practically all-metabolic reaction take places
• It provides the material for evaporation and temperature regulation of the body.
• It also serves as a vehicle of chemical transport for nutrients, waste, and internal enzymes.
• It comprises approximately as 55 to 60% of an individual's total weight.