Nutrients are substances in food that organisms need to make energy, grow, develop and reproduce. There are two types of nutrients: macro-nutrients which are needed in large amounts and include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, water and fiber; and micro-nutrients which are needed in small amounts and include vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet provides all types of nutrients in the proper amounts to meet energy needs and support health.

1. NUTRIENTS
NUTRIENTS

2. Objectives
 Should be able to;
1. Define nutrients
2. List and explain the types of nutrients.
3. Identify foods under each nutrients.
4. Define balanced diet.

3. Introduction
In the last class we discussed about plant and movement of
nutrients in the plant. Plants absorb nutrients and water through
it roots and takes it to the upper part of the plants . Deficiencies
of plant nutrients lead to unhealthy growth.
The food we eat contains lots of nutrients, some of this nutrients
are required in large quantity called MACRO-NUTRIENTS, while
some are required in small quantity called MICRO-NUTRIENTS.

4.  Nutrients are substances in food that all organisms
need to make energy, grow, develop and reproduce.
 Nutrients are digested from food and then broken down
into basic parts to be used by organisms.
 Different kinds of foods contain different combinations of
nutrients.
 There are two major types of nutrients, they are; Macro-
nutrients and Micro-nutrient.
 The Macro-nutrients are nutrients that are required in
large quantity and they are categorised into proteins,
carbohydrates, fat, water and fibre.

5.  The micro-nutrients are nutrients that are required in
small quantity, they are: vitamins and minerals. The body
needs little of such nutrients. Example includes fruits and
vegetables.
Macro-nutrients
Protein are nutrients that helps to build and maintain the
body tissues and cells. Examples are meat, fish, beans, etc.
Importance of protein
It is used for making new cells.
it is used for making essential hormones and enzymes.
it is used in improving immune functions (antibodies) in the
body.

6. Protein

7. Carbohydrates and Fats
 Carbohydrates is a class of nutrients that provide energy, acts as body’s main
source of fuel.
 Starch and sugar are two kinds of carbohydrates. Examples of food that
contains carbohydrates are grains, cereals, bread, pasta, potatoes, fruits, and
sweets such as soda and candy.
 Fats are also called lipid. Fats also stores energy. Fat stores underneath the
skin provide insulation.
 Fats are important in our body to protect our cells and send signals in the
form of hormones around the body. Also needed to form new cell membrane.
 Food that are rich in fats are butter and oil.

8. Carbohydrates

9. Fibre (roughage)
Some of the glucose units are linked together to form fibre and is a
mixture of different carbohydrates which are not digested like other
nutrients but pass through the gut nearly unchanged. Example, carrots,
cabbage, avocado, maize, sorghum, cassava, potato, etc.
Importance
1. It makes food bulky or bigger.
2. Prevent constipation.
3. It slows the absorption of nutrients, so it help nutrient to enter the
blood stream slowly.
4. It aid in digestion by making food move easily through the digestive
system.

10. fibre

11. Water
Water is sometimes considered to be nutrient. It
has it own significant function. Between 60 % and
70% of the body is made up of water.
It helps cleaning the body

12. Micro-nutrients
 Vitamins and minerals are nutrients that we
need in only very small quantities. They do not
provide energy.
 Fruits and vegetables are a good source of
some of them. They help to keep the body in
shape and healthy.

13. Balance diet
Balanced diet is a diet that provide all the
different kinds of nutrients, and the right
amount of energy.
It can also be a diet that contain all the
classes of food.
A diet that is missing a particular nutrient can
lead to nutritional deficiency. The body might
not work properly.
Eating too much of some food can be a
problem to the body. Like too much of sugar
causes tooth decay, eating too much of starch
and fat mean you have more energy that you
use and the body store the extra food as fat
which causes overweight and this is not good
for the body.
 Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals leads to the following.
 Vitamin C helps to make strong skin and deficiency can
cause scurvy (the skin becomes weak, so sores develop
easily). Good source of vitamin C is citrus fruits.
 Vitamin D is needed to make strong bones and teeth.
Deficiency may cause rickets (the bones becomes weak).
Source of vitamin D is diary products.
 Minerals such as iron and calcium are good. Iron is needed
to make haemoglobin, which carries oxygen, deficiency can
lead to anaemia, the blood cannot carry enough oxygen
and the person feels tired. Source include red meat,
vegetables. Calcium is needed for strong bones and teeth,
deficiency will lead to weak bones. Source includes diary
products.

14. Questions
1. Define nutrients
2. List and explain the types of
nutrients.
3. Identify foods under each
nutrients.
4. Define balanced diet.