Make a table of all nutrients mentioning Name of nutrient, 2 functions and 2 sources of each.
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Answer:
Nutrition Module: 2. Nutrients and their Sources
Study Session 2 Nutrients and their Sources
Introduction
In the previous session you learned about nutrition, nutrients, food and food choices. In this session, you will learn about each nutrient in more detail. You will learn about the major categories of nutrients, the main sources of these, their function, and how our body uses each of these nutrients for healthy growth and development.
There are seven main classes of nutrients that the body needs. These are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water. It is important that everyone consumes these seven nutrients on a daily basis to help them build their bodies and maintain their health. Deficiencies, excesses and imbalances in diet can produce negative impacts on health, which may lead to diseases.
This study session will help you to explain to families and individuals in your community the importance of consuming a healthy and balanced diet, and how to do this with the resources available to them.
Learning Outcomes for Study Session 2
When you have studied this session, you should be able to:
2.1 Define and use correctly all of the key words printed in bold. (SAQ 2.1)
2.2 Classify foods into groups according to their nutrients and differentiate between macronutrients and micronutrients. (SAQ 2.1)
2.3 List the sources and functions of the nutrients. (SAQs 2.1 and 2.3)
2.4 Describe vitamins and their classification. (SAQ 2.2)
2.5 Explain the functions of the common minerals that people require in their diet. (SAQ 2.2)
2.6 Describe a balanced diet for people in your community. (SAQ 2.3)
2.1 Classification of essential nutrients
Based on the amount of the nutrients that each person needs to consume on a daily basis, these nutrients are categorised into two groups. These are macronutrients, which should be consumed in fairly large amounts, and micronutrients, which are only required in small amounts.
2.1.1 Macronutrients
‘Macro’ means large; as their name suggests these are nutrients which people need to eat regularly and in a fairly large amount. They include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fibre and water. These substances are needed for the supply of energy and growth, for metabolism and other body functions.
Metabolism means the process involved in the generation of energy and all the ‘building blocks’ required to maintain the body and its functions.
Macronutrients provide a lot of calories but the amount of calories provided varies, depending on the food source. For example, each gram of carbohydrate or protein provides four calories, while fat provides nine calories for each gram.
2.1.2 Micronutrients
As their name indicates (‘micro’ means small) micronutrients are substances which people need in their diet in only small amounts. These include minerals and vitamins.
Although most foods are mixtures of nutrients, many of them contain a lot of one nutrient and a little of the other nutrients. Foods are often grouped according to the nutrient that they contain in abundance (see Box 2.1).
Box 2.1 Nutrient types and their names
Foods that contain a lot of protein are called body-building foods or growing foods. Foods that contain a lot of fat or carbohydrates and perhaps only a little protein are called energy-giving foods.
Foods in which the most important nutrients are vitamins or minerals are called protective foods.
Explanation: