Topic: Life process

Sub-topic: Nutrition
Nutrition is the process by which living organisms obtain or make food.
Types of Nutrients
1) Macronutrients
2) Micronutrients
There are three Macronutrients, and these are required in relatively larger quantities.
1) Carbohydrates
2) Lipids
3) Fats
Micronutrients are required in relatively small quantities.
Types of micronutrients
− Vitamins: fat soluble (A, D, E, K)
Water soluble (C, B1 , B2 , Niacin, folic acid)

− Minerals: (Iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, iodine, potassium and

fluorine)

− Water and dietary fiber (roughage)

Carbohydrates
They are molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
Types of carbohydrates
1) Reducing sugars
2) Non-reducing sugars
3) Starch

Carbohydrates can be classified into three groups:

1) monosaccharides
2) disaccharides
3) polysaccharides

• Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrate molecules, they have the formula C 6H12O6 . All
monosaccharides are reducing sugars.
• Disaccharides are formed by chemically joining two monosaccharide molecules together; they
have the formula C12H22O11. All disaccharides are reducing sugars except sucrose, which is a
non-reducing sugar.
• Polysaccharides are formed by joining many monosaccharide molecules into straight or
branched chains. Polysaccharides include starch, cellulose, and glycogen (animal starch).