Carbohydrates, Proteins, Vitamins and Minerals

There are seven main classes of nutrients that the body needs. These are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber and water. It is important to consume these seven nutrients on a daily basis to build and maintain health. Deficiencies, excesses and imbalances in diet can produce negative impacts on health, which may lead to diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, scurvy, obesity, or osteoporosis as well as psychological and behavioral problems.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the polyhydroxy organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in which the ratio of hydrogen and oxygen hydrogen is 2:1.

Sources of Carbohydrates

The main sources of carbohydrates are plants, e.g., starch (storage forms carbohydrate of chlorophyll containing plants), sugars, cereals, potatoes, legumes, millet, roots and other vegetables. Sugars are found in fruits, juice, cane, honey, palm, milk, etc.

Proteins

Proteins are complex organic compounds. They are macro molecules or bio molecules composed of amino acids linked by peptide bond. The constituent elements of proteins are carbon (54%), hydrogen (7%), nitrogen (16%), oxygen (22%) and some may contain sulpher (1%) or phosphorus (0.6%). They are macro molecules of high MW (molecular weight) and consisting of chains of amino acids e.g., hemoglobin, albumin, globulin, enzymes, etc.

Sources of Proteins

Peas, beans, poultry, cereals, lentils, milk, cheese, eggs, meat, wet and dry fishes, pulses, and nuts.

Vitamins

Vitamins may be defined as organic compounds occurring in small quantities in different natural foods and necessary for the growth and maintenance of good health in human beings and certain experimental animals.

They cannot be synthesized in the body but supplied by the diet to the human body. Plants produce all vitamins but animal (human) stores them. Some are produced in the body e.g. Provitamin carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body and Vit. D is produced in the body in presence of ultraviolet radiation.\

Vitamins are classified into two groups.

1. Fat - soluble vitamins

Fat-soluble vitamins are soluble in fats and fat solvents. They are insoluble in water. So these are utilized only if there is enough fat in the body e.g., vitamin A, D, E and K.

2. Water -soluble vitamins

Water-soluble vitamins are (heterogeneous group) soluble in water and so they cannot be stored in the body. 11 types of vitamins are included in this class e.g., thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, cyanoccobalamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid and ascorbic acid, para-amino benzoic acid, and choline.

Minerals

Minerals are inorganic substances that serve a variety of functions such as co factors in enzyme-catalyzed reactions, in the regulation of acid-base balance, in nerve conduction and muscle irritability and as structural elements in the body. Each mineral is y to gm per day. Some of them required in specific amounts ranging from more important of these are calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and iron.

Kinds of Minerals

Minerals may be divided arbitrarily into 2 groups.

1. Macro minerals: The minerals, which are required in amounts greater than 100 mg/ day.

2. Micro minerals: The minerals, which are required in amounts less than 100 mg/ day.