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Nutrients are everywhere, you will find them in all the foods you eat (yes, even in fast food). Different foods have varying amounts of nutrients. Our body requires specific quantities of nutrients to function correctly and without these nutrients, a variety of metabolic processes may begin to falter. Today we are going to look at some of the different nutrients…
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Jetzt kostenlos anmeldenNutrients are everywhere, you will find them in all the foods you eat (yes, even in fast food). Different foods have varying amounts of nutrients. Our body requires specific quantities of nutrients to function correctly and without these nutrients, a variety of metabolic processes may begin to falter. Today we are going to look at some of the different nutrients our body requires, where we find these nutrients and their uses in the body.
Nutrients can be grouped into two categories: macronutrients and micronutrients.
A coenzyme is a substance that works together with an enzyme to enhance its function or initiate the action of the enzyme.
Water can be considered a macronutrient because we require so much of it, but does not help with energy-releasing processes.
Below we will cover the different nutrients you will find in most meals you eat and their functions.
Proteins consist of long chains of amino acids and are essential for the repair and maintenance of body cells. Amino acids are consumed from foods such as meats, fish, dairy, eggs, nuts, and beans, and are then converted into proteins in protein synthesis conducted by RNA and ribosome molecules. Here are some of the uses of proteins in plants and animals:
Phototropism is the growth of a plant in response to light. Positive phototropism involves the growth of the plant toward the light whereas negative phototropism involves the growth of the plant away from the light.
Insulin and glucagon are hormonal proteins in the body. Insulin stimulates the uptake of sugar out of the blood into cells, while glucagon stimulates glucose breakdown in the liver.
Carbohydrates are organic molecules found in bread, pasta, starchy vegetables, oats, and grains. They are often split into two groups: simple carbohydrates (sugars) and complex carbohydrates (starch, glycogen, fibre). Carbohydrates are broken down to glucose, which is then broken down further during glycolysis into pyruvate and lactate. Further reactions including the Krebs' Cycle produce adenosine triphosphate (the energy molecule) and carbon dioxide. Take a look at our aerobic respiration article for more information.
- Vaia Content (Aerobic Respiration)
Here are the uses of carbohydrates in plants and animals:
Plants do not need to uptake carbohydrates because they produce glucose during photosynthesis. Some plants produce so much glucose that they can afford to have mutualistic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria which trade carbohydrates for nitrate and ammonium ions.
Types of lipids include triglycerides (three fatty acids and glycerol), sterols (such as cholesterol), and phospholipids. These molecules are found in oils, fats (such as lard and butter), processed foods, meats, and nuts. Each gram of fat contains 9 calories, compared to only 4 calories in each gram of carbohydrate, so the breakdown of fats releases lots of energy. Let's have a look at some of the uses of fats in the body:
Figure 1: diagram of a phospholipid bilayer, via Wikimedia commons.
Vitamins are organic nutrients that are distinguished by their solubility. B and C vitamins are soluble in water, whereas A, D, E, and K vitamins are soluble in fat. Here are the roles of each vitamin:
B1, B2, B3, B4, and B6 all aid the biochemical reactions involved in metabolism
B7 assists specifically with amino acids and fatty acids.
B9 is essential for the growth, repair, and maintenance of cells.
B12 aids red blood cell synthesis.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant.
Vitamin A maintains healthy immune systems.
Vitamin D is for healthy bones and teeth.
Vitamin E is also an antioxidant.
Vitamin K helps with blood clotting.
Antioxidants are molecules that resist the dangerous effects of free radicals on body cells.
Minerals on the other hand are inorganic substances which are required in tiny amounts. However, they are still necessary for assisting in a variety of biochemical processes:
Our body is made up of roughly 60% water, so it makes sense that we need a lot of it. Water provides the aqueous medium for all chemical reactions to occur. Without it, our organ systems would stop working! We require about 2 litres of water a day.
An aqueous solution is one which contains water.
Our bodies are able to store the majority of the other nutrients that we talked about today, but cannot store water. We need to constantly recycle water by drinking lots and urinating. Men require 2.6 litres of water a day, while women require 2 litres.
Let's have a look at some elements which are large components of the majority of nutrients.
Nitrogen cycles through ecosystems through nitrogen-fixing bacteria and absorption by consumers. Nitrogen is essential in plants and animals for the following reasons:
Chlorophyll - nitrogen is a major component of chlorophyll, so lots of nitrogen is needed to produce the maximum amount of chlorophyll pigment so plants can photosynthesise as much as possible.
DNA - nitrogen is present in the nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA. DNA is the genetic material that provides the instructions for all biochemical processes and hereditary information.
ATP - the monomers which make up the energy transfer molecule adenosine triphosphate contain nitrogen. ATP is pivotal in controlling energy transfer in metabolic processes.
Amino acids - nitrogen makes up a substantial proportion of amino acid residues, which are the building blocks when manufacturing proteins. These proteins are essential in manufacturing protective structures and useful enzymes.
Horticulturists can quickly identify plants that are nitrogen-deficient. Symptoms include discolouration or yellowing of the leaves (nitrogen is needed for manufacturing the green chlorophyll) and stunted growth.
Phosphorus is an extremely rare element that circulates between rocks, soils, oceans, and ecosystems very slowly. Phosphorus is important in the body for the following reasons:
Phosphorus is an important molecule when building up bones and teeth.
Phosphorus is required when building up DNA and RNA molecules, which are necessary molecules for storing genetic material and synthesising proteins.
Energy release requires phosphorus, as it is a component of ATP.
When building up cell membranes, phosphorus is essential for the synthesis of phospholipids.
Phosphorus is vital in muscle contraction, heartbeat rhythm, and nerve connections.
ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate, so contains 3 phosphorus molecules!
Figure 2: Here is the equation showing the break down of the energy molecule ATP to ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate (and energy release).
Carbon forms the structural backbone for all organic molecules. Carbon's ability to form strong covalent bonds in nature makes it a very unique and useful molecule. Here are how carbon is used in the body:
Carbon is the backbone of glucose molecules so is essential in aerobic respiration and energy release in the body.
Carbon is a key component in proteins, lipids, and fats.
Single and double carbon-carbon bonds determine whether fatty acids are saturated or unsaturated.
Monounsaturated fatty acids contain one carbon-carbon double bond, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids contain multiple carbon-carbon double bonds.
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