Nutrients, Digestion, and Body Chemistry

• Nutrients are food substances providing energy and materials for cell development, growth, and repair.
• Minerals are inorganic compounds that regulate chemical reactions in the body.
• Vitamins are organic nutrients essential for maintaining good health.
• Digestion is the process of breaking down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into simpler molecules for absorption and use by the body's cells.
• An enzyme is a protein molecule that controls the rate of numerous processes in the body.
• Peristalsis involves smooth muscles of the esophagus contracting in waves to move food to the stomach.
• Villi are folds covered by tiny, finger-like projections in the intestines to increase surface area for absorption.
• The six major nutrients are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.
• Fats and vitamins are organic compounds containing carbon atoms.
• Salivary amylase enzymes can be found in the salivary glands.
• All chemical reactions and cellular functions happen in the cell's cytoplasm.

Proteins

• Complete and incomplete proteins are the two types of proteins.
• Roast beef, eggs, and whole milk examples of foods containing complete proteins.
• Peanuts, green peas, and corn are foods with incomplete proteins.
• Vitamins are needed in very small amounts.
• Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K are the 6 vitamins.

Vitamin functions

• Vitamin A promotes healthy skin, eyes, and growth.
• Vitamin B supports growth, healthy skin, and mucous membranes.
• Vitamin C aids healing and maintains body cell connections.
• Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus levels.
• Vitamin E is important for reproduction, cell growth, and wound healing.
• Vitamin K promotes blood clotting.
• Rickets results from a vitamin D deficiency.

Digestion

• Digestion breaks down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into molecules that cells absorb and use.
• Chemical digestion involves breaking down food into smaller pieces via chemicals produced by the body.
• Mechanical digestion includes chewing in the mouth, churning in the stomach, and segmentation in the small intestine.
• Creating smaller food pieces through mechanical digestion.
• The pancreas, gallbladder, and liver all have hydrochloric acid.