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Nutrition and digestionNutrition= Getting food It is one of the 7 Life Processes (remember MRS GREN) While plants make their own food through Photosynthesis, animals are consumers; they have to Eat other organisms to get nutrients. Animals need these 7 Groups of nutrients:
We need Carbohydrates, proteins and fats in relatively large amounts- they are Macro nutrients, Vitamins and mineral elements are needed in small amounts, they are Micro nutrients but they are still important for health. The table below summarises what we need each nutrient for and the foods that can supply us with it:
Food testsYou may be required to find out what nutrients particular foods contain. Here are the 4 main tests that are usually done in Junior school science: 1. Testing for starch Method
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2. Testing for sugar/glucose Method
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3. Testing for proteins- the Biuret testMethod
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4. Testing for fats/oils- The Ethanol emulsion test
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Deficiency diseases A deficiency is a shortage of something People can have a deficiency disease if they are short of any of these food nutrients e.g.
*Luckily, you can cure a deficiency disease by giving the person the nutrient that they are short of.
Obesity When you take in more carbohydrates than you need for activity, the excess is stored as fat. You put on weight and become overweight. This may continue until you are obese. Being overweight and obese refer to your Body Mass Index (BMI). Obesity puts you at risk of heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. The key is to make sure you balance the energy intake and use. Heart disease Eating too much animal fat is risky to your life. These saturated fats can block blood vessels around your heart and you may suffer a Heart attack. This is when heart muscle is starved of oxygen and it cannot pump.
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Challenge yourself What is a water bath? Why is the sample not heated directly over a Bunsen burner flame?
Find out about another test for fats. How can we find out how much Vit. C a food has?
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