Nutrient Types

A balanced diet should contain 7 types of nutrients.

These are carbohydrates, proteins, fats (and lipids), vitamins, minerals, fiber, water.

Nutrition labels

These are tables full of information about what is in our food.

Enzymes

Enzymes are proteins that speed up reactions in our bodies. They are really helpful in the digestive system as they break long insoluble molecules of food into smaller soluble molecules that we can absorb.

Human Digestive System

All living things eat food for energy. Food we eat is broken into small pieces for the body to absorb.

The nutrients from food are absorbed in the body and used for energy.

Our body uses this energy for work, play and growth. 

The process of breaking down of food into smaller particles that can be absorbed by our bodies is called digestion.

Carbohydrates come in three sizes:

• Monosacharide= one sugar

• Disaccharide= two sugars

• Polysaccharide= many sugars

Carbohydrates

There are many vitamins and nutrients in the foods people eat, and one of the three main ways the body obtains energy or calories is through carbohydrates. The sugars, starches, and fibers found in vegetables, grains, fruits and milk products are called carbohydrates and are important to a healthy life. They are macronutrients and are the body's main source of energy.

peristalsis

• a series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

  (Throwing up is called reverse peristalsis!)

• where it happens: esophagus