1. Felicia Busch, MPH, RD, FADA

2. The foods you eat are a source of nutrients
Nutrients are substances found in food that keep your body functioning
Nutrients are substances in foods that you use to obtain energy, build or repair tissue and regulate body functions. Food fuels your body in the same way that gas fuels cars. If you put the wrong kind of fuel into a car it won’t run well – the same is true when it comes to food – you need the right mix of nutrients to keep things running smoothly.

3. Nutrients Your body needs nutrients to: Fuel your energy Help you grow
Repair itself
Maintain basic bodily functions
Nutrients have three basic functions:
Provide energy in the form of calories that you body uses to move, work and grow. Only three nutrients provide calories – they are protein, carbohydrate and fat.
Help you grow and keep your body in top repair, some nutrients contribute to bone structure, some help keep your blood cells healthy, and others aid muscle growth.
Finally nutrients from food help regulate the day- to- day operation of your body – breathing, circulation, movement, digestion and elimination. 3

4. Balance is Key Balance - eat foods from all groups of the MyPyramid
These three are the framework of MyPyramid:
Balance - eat foods from all groups of the MyPyramid
Variety - eat different foods from each food group
Moderation - eat more foods from the bottom of the pyramid, and fewer and smaller portions of foods from the top of the pyramid
For years, people held to the idea that there are “bad” nutrients and “good” nutrients when, in fact, all nutrients play a certain role in the body. Even those nutrients once considered “bad” such as fats and carbohydrates perform vital functions in the body and if one consumes too many “good” nutrients such as vitamins or minerals there can be harmful results, as well.

5. The 6 Essential Nutrients
Water
Carbohydrates
Protein
Fat
Vitamins
Minerals
Water is the most basic nutrient – and the most important. Without enough water you body can’t survive more than a few days without it.
Carbohydrates come in two forms, simple and complex and you need some of each.
Protein is the nutrient most people already get plenty of.
Fat isn’t bad. Without a supply of healthy fat your brain and nerves won’t work well.
Vitamins don’t provide any energy, but they do help break down and release energy from protein, carbohydrates and fat.
Minerals like sodium and calcium are found in a wide variety of foods and help perform a wide variety of essential functions in the body. 5

6. Water Did you know? Functions in the body:
1/2 to 3/4 of the human body consists of water!
Functions in the body:
Water carries nutrients to your cells and carries waste from your body
Regulates body temperature
Dissolves vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients
Lubricates joints
Babies have a higher percentage of water in the bodies than adults – that’s one of the reasons their diet is mostly fluids to begin with. Keeping hydrated it important for people of all ages.
You get water from many foods besides beverages, fruits like watermelon and oranges are more than 90% water, meats also contain water, as do vegetables and dairy products.
Extra info: Water Facts
Less than 1% of the world's fresh water (or about % of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use.
A person can live weeks without food, but only days without water. 
A person needs 4 to 5 gallons of water per day to survive.
The average American individual uses 100 to 176 gallons of water at home each day.
It is recommended that teens drink 6-8 glasses (8 fl.oz each) of water each day. This is in addition to around 4 cups of water you get from food each day.

7. Carbohydrates Two types of carbohydrates: Complex carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy and provide the body’s need for dietary fiber.
Two types of carbohydrates:
Complex carbohydrates
Simple carbohydrates
Carbohydrates come from a variety of foods including pasta, breads, cereals, grains, rice, fruits, milk, yogurt and sweets.
Carbohydrates are an ideal source of energy for the body. This is because they can be converted more readily into glucose, the form of sugar that's transported and used by the body.
Extra Info:
Despite the recent craze to cut carbs, the bottom line is that experts agree that most of your food intake – about 55-65% should come from carbohydrate foods.

8. Food sources: Simple Carbohydrates Fruits, juices, milk and yogurt
Candy, soda and jelly
Have a bad reputation because they are high in calories and low in nutritional value
Simple carbohydrates found in a lot of very nutritious foods — like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, which provide a range of essential nutrients that support growth and overall health. For example, fresh fruits contain simple carbs, but they have vitamins and fiber, too.
Foods that are high in added sugar (soda, cookies, cake, candy, frozen desserts, and some fruit drinks) tend to also be high in calories and low in other valuable nutrients. As a result, a high-sugar diet is often linked with obesity. Eating too many sugary foods can also lead to tooth decay. 8

9. Complex Carbohydrates
Food sources:
Whole grain breads and cereals, pasta, vegetables, rice, tortillas and legumes
Function in the body:
An excellent source of energy for the body
Rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber
Complex carbohydrates include whole grain breads and cereals, pasta, crackers, tortillas, rice, vegetables, and legumes. They are an excellent source of fuel for the body and are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Try this:
Give each student a small piece of soda cracker to hold on his or her tongue. Instruct them to keep it on their tongue without chewing – for at least two minutes. All of a sudden they should notice a sweet taste. That’s because carbohydrate digestion has started in their mouth when salivary enzymes change the long chains of complex carbohydrates from the cracker into shorter glucose chains. 9

10. Fiber Food sources: Function in the body:
Oatmeal, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes
Function in the body:
Aids in digestion and elimination
May reduce the risk of developing some diseases like heart disease, diabetes and obesity, and certain types of cancer
Helps promote regularity
Fiber is indigestible but helps digestion – how does that work?
Attracts water to the digestive tract
Exercises the muscle of the digestive tract
Speeds up food passage, which helps prevent exposure of the digestive tract tissue to cancer causing agents in foods
Binds with cholesterol and carries it out of the body, reducing the risk of heart disease. Slows sugar absorption after a meal and may reduce the amount of insulin needed. 10

11. Proteins Food sources: Function in the body:
Meat, fish, eggs, poultry, dairy products, legumes, nuts and seeds
Function in the body:
Provides energy
Help to build, maintain, and repair body tissues
Protein comes from a variety of sources – meat, fish, eggs, poultry, dairy products, legumes, nuts and seeds. Breads, cereals and vegetables also contain small amounts of protein. Proteins give the body energy and help build, maintain and repair body tissues.
Since most of the body's proteins are continually broken down, the body needs to manufacture thousands of proteins every day to replace them. The more active you are the faster your proteins break down, and more protein you need to replenish them.
Protein cannot be stored for later use, like fat or carbohydrates can, so you need to eat protein foods throughout the day.
Proteins are made up of chemical compounds called amino acids. There are 20 amino acids.

12. Two types of protein: Amino Acids Complete proteins:
Contain all 9 essential amino acids
They are found in animal sources
Incomplete proteins:
Lack one or more of the essential amino acids
Found in plant sources
Of the 20 amino acids, the human body is capable of producing 11 of them. The other 9 called, “Essential Amino Acids” must be supplied by food sources. There are two types of proteins, complete and incomplete. A complete protein contains all 9 of the essential amino acids and come from animal source. Incomplete proteins are missing one or more of the essential amino acids and are found in plant sources. Combinations of incomplete proteins like bread and peanut butter or rice and beans make a complete protein.
However, it’s not true that vegetarians need to pair up certain foods in one meal to get “complete proteins.” The best way to give the body complete proteins is to eat a wide variety of foods throughout the day. 12

13. Fats Food sources: Function in the body:
Butter, vegetable oils, salad dressings, nuts and seeds, dairy products made with whole milk or cream, and meats
Function in the body:
Provide substances needed for growth and healthy skin
Enhance the taste and texture of food
Required to carry “fat-soluble” vitamins throughout the body
Provide energy
Fats are the most concentrated form of food energy (calories). Fats come from butter, vegetable oils, salad dressings, nuts and seeds, dairy products made from milk or cream, and meats. Fats usually get a bad wrap, but they are important to keep your body healthy. Fats provide substances needed for growth and healthy skin. Fats enhance the taste and texture of foods. The body needs fat to carry “fat-soluble” vitamins throughout the body. Fats also provide energy.
There are four types of fats, some better than others.

14. Food sources: Function in the body: Saturated Fats
Animal products and tropical oils
Function in the body:
Raise bad cholesterol, can increase risk for heart diseases
Increase good cholesterol that can help prevent cancer and other immune disorders
All foods with fat contain a combination of types. Butter, fatty meats, cheese, coconut and palm oil have a high percentage of saturated fat. These fats are dense fat, which are usually solid at room temperature. Saturated fats can raise bad cholesterol levels, putting the body at risk for heart diseases.
Enjoy these foods in moderation – but there is no need to eliminate them completely.

15. Food sources: Function in the body: Trans Fats
Vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods, foods made or fried in partially hydrogenated oils
Function in the body:
Increases risk of heart disease by raising cholesterol and low density fatty acid levels
Trans fats are processed fats that are created in food manufacturing when liquid vegetable oils are turned into solid fat using a process called hydrogenation. They are found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods, and foods that are made or fried in partially hydrogenated oils.
Since January 1, 2006, when trans fat information was added to the Nutrition Facts panel you can now see how much total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol are in the foods you choose.
Trans fats are thought to be more harmful than saturated fats because not only do they raise cholesterol and bad lipid levels, they also reduced the good fats that you want to keep high.
Some food manufacturers have lowered the amount of trans fat in their foods, but it may still contain some trans fats and still be labeled zero trans fats. This is because the regulations allow labels to say 0 g trans fat if it contains less than 0.5 grams. Watch for the words “hydrogenated” and “partially-hydrogenated” on ingredients lists as they indicate trans fats.
Extra Info:
Most manufactures have removed trans fats from their foods and several states have banned trans fats from being served in restaurant foods.

16. Polyunsaturated fat: Monounsaturated fat: Unsaturated Fats
Food sources: vegetables and fish oils
Provide two essential fatty acids necessary for bodily functions
Monounsaturated fat:
Food sources: olive oil, canola oil, nuts, seeds
May play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease
There are two types of unsaturated fats – polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. Most polyunsaturated fats are oils that are light in color and odorless and can withstand high cooking temperatures. Common examples are corn oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil. They provide two essential fatty acids necessary for bodily functions.
Monounsaturated fats are darker oils including olive, peanut and sesame seed oil. Olives, nuts and avocados are also good sources of monounsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats may play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease, but remembers as with all fats – moderation is the key.

17. Cholesterol
A fat-like substance that is part of every cell of the body
Food sources:
Animal products
Function in the body:
Helps the body make necessary cells including skin and hormones
Aids in digestion
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is part of every cell in the body. The human body manufactures all the cholesterol that it needs, but we also get cholesterol from animal products like meat, milk, butter, and cheese. Cholesterol helps the body make skin cells and hormones and also helps aid in digestion.
When cholesterol levels are high there is a greater risk for heart disease. Do you know what the healthy cholesterol range is for teens your age?
Normal levels of total cholesterol in teens are between 120 and mg/dl. After age 18, the levels considered to be normal rise about 1 point per year of age up to 170. Levels between 181 and 200 mg/dl are considered to be borderline high for adults.
It’s not really foods high in cholesterol that raise cholesterol levels. Not being active and eating too much saturated and trans fats are the main reasons cholesterol levels get too high.

18. Food sources: Function in the body: Vitamins
Fruits, vegetables, milk, whole-grain breads, cereals and legumes
Function in the body:
Help regulate the many chemical processes in the body
There are 13 different vitamins known to be required each day for good health
Vitamins come from a variety of sources including fruits, vegetables, milk, whole-grain breads and cereals, and legumes. However, unlike carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, vitamins DO NOT provide energy (calories).
Vitamins work to help regulate many chemical processes in the body. There are 13 different vitamins known to be required by the body each day for good health.
If you eat less than 1,000 calories a day it’s impossible to get enough vitamins from the food you eat. The solution – be more active so you can include more foods.
Vitamin supplements never “make up for” bad diets. Foods are the best way to get vitamins.
Eating lots of different types of fruits and vegetables is the best way to supply your body with a rich load of vitamins.
Vitamins are separated into two types: Fat Soluble & Water Soluble Vitamins.

19. Fat & Water Soluble Vitamins
Fat soluble vitamins
Vitamins A, D, E, K
Require fat for the stomach to allow them to be carried into the blood stream for use (absorption)
Can be stored in the body for later use
Water soluble vitamins
Vitamins C and B-complex
Require water for absorption
Easily absorbed and passed through the body as waste
Fat soluble vitamins include A, D, E, and K. These vitamins require fat to be absorbed into the blood stream so you have to eat some fat in your snack or meal to be able to absorb fat soluble nutrients from the foods you eat. Since fat soluble vitamins are stored in fatty tissue, you can save them up. However if you take supplements of fat soluble vitamins in high amounts over time they can be toxic!
Water soluble vitamin include vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, B6, folate, and B12). These vitamins require water to be absorbed into the blood stream and are easily absorbed. These vitamins can’t go into long term storage – they must be consumed every day. Exposure to light, air and high temperatures decreases the amount of water-soluble vitamins available for absorption – so handle carefully!

20. Vitamin A Food sources: Function in the body:
Dark green, leafy vegetables, deep yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, liver, milk, cheese, and eggs
Function in the body:
Helps keep skin and hair healthy
Aids in night vision
Plays a role in developing strong bones and teeth
Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin found in dark green, leafy vegetables, deep yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, liver, milk, cheese, and eggs. You can see the different types of vitamin A in foods by looking at their colors.The red in a pepper, orange in a carrot and yellow in a squash are just a few examples.
Vitamin A helps keep your skin and hair healthy. It aids in night vision and plays a role in developing strong bones and teeth.
It’s pretty hard to eat too much vitamin A, but if you do your skin may take on a light orange glow.

21. Food sources: Function in the body: Vitamin D
Vitamin D fortified milk, egg yolks, salmon, liver
Nonfood source: the sun
Function in the body:
Helps the body use calcium and phosphorus
Plays a role in building strong bones and teeth
The fat-soluble vitamin D is found in fortified milk, egg yolks, salmon, and liver, but it also can be obtained from the sun. A walk in the park, playing outdoors or basking on the beach are some of the more fun ways to get some vitamin D. It’s often referred to as the sunshine vitamin.
Technically, vitamin D isn’t a vitamin because you can get it from something other than food. But people who live in northern climates or use sunscreen or stay indoors a lot need to get vitamin D from foods.
Vitamin D helps the body use the minerals calcium and phosphorus and plays a role in building strong bones and teeth. People over the age of 70 need more vitamin D than younger people because they lose their ability to make vitamin D from sun exposure by half.

22. Food sources: Function in the body: Vitamin E
Whole-grain breads and cereals, dark green, leafy vegetables, dry beans and peas, nuts and seeds, vegetable oils, margarine, liver
Function in the body:
Helps form red blood cells, muscles, and other tissues
Unfortunately, Vitamin E is one of the nutrients that’s hard to get from low calorie foods. It’s found in whole grain breads and cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, dry beans and peas, nuts and seeds, vegetable oils, margarine, and liver.
Try adding small amounts of nuts or seeds to salads or mix some wheat germ into cookie dough.
Vitamin works to form red blood cells, muscles, and other tissues. The beauty benefits of Vitamin E are beautiful skin and shiny hair.

23. Food sources: Function in the body: Vitamin K
Dark green and leafy vegetables (such as spinach, lettuce, kale, collard greens), and cabbage
Function in the body:
Helps blood to clot
Vitamin K is found in dark green and leafy vegetables including spinach, lettuce, kale, collard greens, and cabbage. It works to help blood to clot.
You don’t hear much about vitamin K because deficiency is rare.
In the United States all newborn infants are given an injection of vitamin K shortly before they go home with their parents. That’s because newborns have not yet developed normal, healthy bacteria in their digestive tract that help produce on of the three essential forms of vitamin K. 23

24. Food sources: Function in the body: B-Complex Vitamins
Whole grain and enriched breads and cereals; dry beans and peas; peanut butter; nuts; meat; poultry; fish; eggs; milk
Function in the body:
Helps the body use the energy from the foods we eat
B-Complex vitamins are found in a variety of foods including whole grain and enriched breads and cereals, dry beans and peas, peanut butter, nuts, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and milk. They help the body use the energy from the foods we eat.
Thiamin – Vitamin B-1
U.S grains products are enriched with thiamin. Don’t wash or rinse rice or pasta after cooking or the thiamin will leach out into the water.
Niacin – Vitamin B-3
Niacin deficiency is rare today, but pellagra was common during the great depression when food was scarce. Pellagra’s symptoms are called the 3 D’s – diarrhea, dermatitis (skin rashes) and dementia (decrease in mental function).
Riboflavin – Vitamin B-6
This nutrient helps release energy from protein, carbohydrates and fat during metabolism. Most breads, pasta and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals are fortified with riboflavin.
Pyridoxine – B-6
This vitamin helps cells figure out which amino acids to break down for energy and which to convert into other amino acids.
Cobalamin –B-12
Getting enough of this nutrient is hard for many older adults or vegetarians who eat no meat. You may have heard of people getting B- 12 shots for this reason.
Folate
Since January, 1998 all U.S. made bread, white rice, regular pasta and hot cereals were required to add folic acid. That’s because of research showing that having adequate amounts of this vitamin can prevent serious birth defects like spina bifida.
Biotin
Biotin, like Vitamin E helps keep your hair and skin looking great.
Pantothenic Acid
People who eat a lot of processed foods may not get enough of this key vitamin. That’s because most of it is destroyed during food processing.

25. Food sources: Function in the body: Vitamin C
Citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, tomatoes, and potatoes
Function in the body:
Helps heal wounds
Helps maintain healthy bones, teeth, and blood vessels
Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, tomatoes, and potatoes. It’s is also known as ascorbic acid and has a wide variety of uses in the body is found in many foods we eat. Vitamin C helps in wound healing and helps maintain healthy bones, teeth, and blood vessels.
Scurvy, the disease caused by Vitamin C deficiency, was common a few generations ago. It was prevalent among seamen who lived on dried and salted foods for months at a time. After it was discovered that citrus fruits help prevent scurvy, sailors routinely sucked on limes to stay healthy.
Vitamin C also helps foods stay fresh and is often added as a food preservative.
Extra Info: Only humans, monkeys, guinea pigs and a few species of bird and fish need vitamin C. Every other living thing makes its’ own vitamin C from the sugar glucose. 25

26. Minerals Food sources: Functions in the body:
Meats, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and grains
Functions in the body:
The body depends on minerals for practically every process necessary for life
The body requires 16 minerals daily
Red meat is the best food source of minerals because large animals consume vast amounts of plants over a lifetime of eating. The minerals from plants are concentrated into the animal’s tissues. Whole grains are the best non-meat minerals sources, followed by fruits and vegetables.
Minerals perform a variety of functions in the body. The body depends on minerals for practically every process necessary for life. The body requires 16 minerals daily.
Extra Info:
Like vitamins, many minerals are part of enzymes. Minerals are a catalyst, which help enzymes to operate. An adult male stores about 5 pounds of minerals throughout his body.

27. Major Minerals and Electrolytes
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Electrolytes
Chloride
Postassium
Sodium
The major minerals and electrolytes include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, chloride, potassium, and sodium. They are named major minerals because they are present and needed in larger amounts in the body.
Calcium helps build strong bones and teeth. It’s important to get enough calcium during the teenage years so you won’t run out as you age and develop a crippling bone disease called osteoporosis.
Magnesium works to signal muscles when it’s time to contract and relax and also impact blood pressure.
If you drink lots of soft drinks or take antacids that contain aluminum you will absorb much less phosphorus than you should from foods – and that can lead to weak bones.
Chloride’s more famous partner is Sodium and both help you regulate water balance in the body. Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure in some – but not all people. Liking salty foods is an acquired taste – and it takes time for taste buds to adjust and learn to like foods without much salt.
Too little potassium can cause leg cramps – that’s because your muscles are screaming “I’m tired, hungry and need some rest!” When your potassium levels get too low it forces muscles to cramp and remain inactive until they have time to recover. 27

28. Trace Minerals Trace minerals: Iron Chromium Copper Fluoride Iodine
Selenium
Molybdenum
Zinc
Trace minerals are needed in very tiny amounts. Trace minerals include iron, chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, selenium, molybdenum, and zinc. They are deposited in earth and tock and find their way into food because plant roots absorb minerals from dirt and water. While you need these minerals in small amounts they still play a big role in keeping you healthy. 28

29. Nutrient Deficiency
A nutritional deficiency occurs when your body doesn’t get enough nutrients over time
The best way to avoid a nutrient deficiency is to eat a well balanced diet
A nutrient deficiency is when your body doesn’t get enough nutrients over time. At first the symptoms may not seem serious. They may include: tiredness, difficulty sleeping or concentrating, frequent colds, and weight loss or gains. However, if the deficiency is not corrected the symptoms may get more serious and effect the skin, eyes, and bones.
Most people know that not enough nutrients is bad, but getting too much is not healthy either. Amounts more than times the recommended levels change how some vitamins and minerals behave in your body and make them act more like drugs than nutrients. Symptoms of overdose are very much like those of deficiency – headache, weakness tiredness, nausea and vomiting.
The best way to avoid a nutrient deficiency or excess is to eat a well balanced diet. 29

30. Nutrient Basics Quiz
Fill in the blank with the appropriate nutrient.
1. I serve many functions in the body. I help carry nutrients to the body’s cells and I also help regulate body temperature. I am____________.
2. I can be converted into energy. I am also used to build, maintain and repair body tissues. I am____________.
3. I have a bad reputation in many people’s minds but I do serve many functions in the body. For example, I am the most concentrated source of energy and I also am needed for growth and healthy skin. I am____________.
Quiz Answers
1. water
2. protein
3. fat
4. carbohydrate
5. vitamins
6. minerals

31. Nutrient Basics Quiz
Fill in the blank with the appropriate nutrient.
4. I am the body’s main source of energy and I come in two forms, simple and complex. I am_________.
5. I do not provide energy (calories) but I do help regulate many of the chemical processes in the body. You need 13 different forms of me everyday. I am_________.
6. I am depended on for nearly every process necessary for life. The body requires 16 types of me everyday from calcium to iron. I am _________.
Quiz Answers
1. water
2. protein
3. fat
4. carbohydrate
5. vitamins
6. minerals 31 31

32. You’re the Expert…
Jenny is an active teenager. She plays on the basketball and soccer teams at her school. Lately, however, she has been feeling tired and having trouble concentrating in school. She eats three meals a day, but tends to eat mostly cheese pizza, French fries, and Twinkies. Jenny comes to you for advice.
Working in small groups, create a sample diet for her which may help her overcome her nutritional deficiency. Be sure to include all of the 6 essential nutrients in her diet plan and explain briefly why you chose the foods you did.

33. Applying What You Know
Pick one of the following assignments to be completed outside of class.
1. Record your diet for 3 days. Write down everything you eat and drink throughout the day. Then, go over your diet and evaluate it based on your nutritional needs. What nutrients are you consuming enough of? Are there any nutrients you need more of on a daily basis? In what ways will you make improvements. Write a one-page summary of your results.
2. Research one of the well-known nutritional deficiency diseases. What are the major causes of the disease? How is it diagnosed? Is a certain age group more prone to the disease? Can it be cured? Write a one- two page report on your findings.
3. Create a poster for teens your age describing the functions of the 6 essential nutrients. Be sure to include visual examples of food sources, USDA serving guidelines, as well as any new facts you may discover regarding disease prevention. You will be graded on neatness and creativity, as well as content.
Try This: Encourage students to use nutrient analysis software to get a more accurate idea of the nutrients they eat from their 3-day food record.

34. Exploring the Web
Here are some suggested sites you and your class may want to investigate for more information on nutrients
MyPyramid
US Dietary Guidelines
Teachers: Please note that these addresses are constantly changing and being updated. You may need to revise this list.
This site has free lesson ideas and instructional materials for teachers to help extend the information on nutrients.
This site from the University of Massachusetts can be used by students to test their nutrient knowledge or used by teachers to supplement evaluation.
splay/index.php?info_center=1 1&tax_level=1
Nutrition facts and information.

35. Copyright 2009 Learning ZoneXpress 888. 455. 7003 www
Copyright 2009 Learning ZoneXpress
Key Teaching Messages
Food is a mixture of chemicals that contain nutrients essential to health.
There are six classes or types of nutrients, water, protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals.
Water is the most important nutrient because more than half of the human body is made of water.
The energy in foods is measured in calories. Only protein, carbohydrates and fats provide calories.
Vitamins and minerals work together to help regulate body processes such as circulation, breathing and metabolism.