Biochemistry

The main nutrients (nutrients) include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Proteins. These are irreplaceable food substances that should inlet with food at each main intake. All the vital activity of the human body is associated with various proteins that make up the cells, where these substances perform various functions. To determine the norms of proteins in the diet, the fact that they are not stored in stock is essential. With protein deficiency, the body's first resistance to damaging effects is reduced, a number of basic metabolic processes are disrupted, which leads to diseases, often fatal. At the same time, a high protein content in the diet has an irritating effect on the nervous system, leading to overloading of organs directly associated with the removal of the breakdown products of protein substances. Excess protein increases the activity of the blood coagulation system, as well as sensitivity to allergens, that is, it enhances the body's reactivity to various substances, including those found in certain foods. Not all dietary proteins arc equal. Some of them (mainly of plant origin) cannot ensure the normal functioning of the body, especially the growing one, since they do not have the entire set of essential amino acids. Biologically valuable proteins are found in meat and By-products, fish and seafood, milk and dairy products, cheese, eggs, soy. Carbohydrates are food substances, the sources of which are plants containing starch, sugar (beet and milk), glucose, fructose. In the human body, energy from carbohydrates is easily released, not only with sufficient oxygen supply to the tissues, but also with its lack. So, for example, during intensive physical work, the blood does not have time to fully supply the muscles with oxygen, and additional energy is released due to the oxidation of carbohydrates. Some carbohydrates arc part of the brain, connective tissue, fluids and mucus. Great is their importance in the protective reactions of the body. Lipids. This is a complex group of nutrients that are involved in the construction of the structures of cell walls (membranes), in the formation of hormones (adrenal cortex, sex glands, prostaglandins) and other processes. Part of the lipids in the body does not form, so they must come with food. Such substances include some unsaturated fatty acids, in particular linoleic acid, which is indispensable for the body, found in vegetable oils (sunflower, com, soy, hemp, etc.). In tissues, fats are more difficult to oxidize than carbohydrates, so a certain ratio of these nutrients should be observed: in the diet, at least 4 g of carbohydrates should be present per 1 g of fat. 34