Tag: food components and nutrition

The nutrient synthesized by plants through photosynthesis is carbohydrates. Plants are autotrophs and they synthesize their own food by the process of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, they convert carbon dioxide and water in presence of sunlight and chlorophyll to produce carbohydrates (glucose) and oxygen. 

An inorganic nutrient is essentially any compound or element that is not carbon-based, but is otherwise necessary to maintain health and optimum growth of a plant, animal, or human. Nitrogen is an inorganic nutrient that is later converted to organic forms like nitrite, nitrate or ammonia.

Proteins are major element required in the growth of the plant cells. In plants, all the 20 amino acids should be formed in the plant body because they cannot take them up fro any other source. Proteins are essential as they are the basic constituents of enzymes, cell membrane, and transport systems.

Carbohydrates, as the name suggests, are the hydrates of carbon and thus are made up of molecules of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon.

Water present in the human body supports the metabolic reactions in the body. The enzymes which act as a catalyst in these biological reaction acts efficiently in presence of water. The salts like sodium and potassium which dissolves in the water act as a transporter as it is a very good solvent. These help in the transmission of the nerve impulse. It helps to maintain a constant temperature inside the body. It also helps in cellular processes like endocytosis and exocytosis. It helps to maintain osmotic condition inside the cell.

All the constituents of food are digested but roughage or fibres are not digested, but they play a very important role in the formation and smooth elimination of bowels.

Kwashiorkor is caused by severe protein deficiency. Albumin is the primary plasma protein responsible for maintaining oncotic pressure; its reduced synthesis leads to fluid leakage into tissues, causing edema.

Protein-energy malnutrition is also called marasmus which is mainly observed in infants and children of age around 5 years old. The skin of the child becomes dry, thin and wrinkled, a deficiency also impairs growth and replacement of tissue, the body becomes thin and mental retardation is observed.

• Marasmus is a disorder that occurs due to the deficiency of protein as well as calories mean prolonged starvation leads to it. Usually occurs in children age 0 to 5 and the child becomes very thin, becomes dehydrated, shrinks the stomach, etc.