Vitamins,
minerals, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and water are the six
classifications of nutrients. Each of these nutrients, when combined
in a proper balance, will help the body to function at a more optimal
level. Water is listed as one of the most necessary nutrients among
these six classifications of nutrients, because our body loses water
and the water has to be replaced. The nutrients that has the
functions of providing energy to the body are protein, carbohydrates,
and fat. While vitamins and minerals may not offer energy to the body, these nutrients will assist the energy nutrients by obtaining energy from them, working as regulators. Protein also helps the body in forming structures within
its tissue, will help the body heal from
wounds, to develop new tissue, digest foods, get rid of waste, help
the muscle to move, and assist the body in maintaining life, as the
body cannot make its own nutrient (Sizer,
& Whitney, 2013). The nutrients must come from the intake of
food. As
soon as someone takes a bite of food, the process of digestion
begins. Chewing is the next step, saliva secretes into the mouth and
helps to break down the food that is being chewed, making the food
become something possible to swallow and pass into the esophagus
(Sizer,
& Whitney, 2013), (The
Digestive System, n.d.).
As the chewed food goes into the stomach, it starts getting churned
and mixed in with gastric juices located in the stomach. A liquid
mixture has been created, known as chyme, consisting of pepsin,
hydrochloric acid and water. Mucus is also present to protect the
lining of the stomach
(The Digestive System, n.d.). The digestion process moves the food
through the large and small intestine, and then what is not needed
from the food is expelled from the body.
References:
Sizer,
F. & Whitney, E. (2013). Nutrition:
Concepts and Controversies (13th
ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
The
Digestive System.
YouTube.
Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7xKYNz9AS0&feature=related
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