proteins mineral salts and water

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1.1

Proteins

When we take protein-rich food,

proteins are broken down into aminoacids, and then aa join again in a different

order and proportion to create our own proteins.

There are

20 aa in human body, we can produce 12 of them by modifying other aa, the rest

must be obtained from food (essential

aminoacids)

Plant proteins

can be deficient in some aa. Animal

proteins contains all aa.

1.1

Mineral

salts

Inorganic substances with different functions

in the body: structural, auxiliary, regulatory functions…

They are present in all types of food, but

they are abundant in fruits and vegetables. Some are dissolved in water

About 20

minerals are essential for our body. We need large, amounts of Mg, K, Ca and

Na, and minimal amounts of Fe, Zn, Cu and I.

1.2

Water

It is the most abundant substance

in the body (around 60 % of the body’s mass).

It is a solvent for most of the other nutrients, and it’s necessary for

metabolic reactions and for temperature regulation, as well as for transporting

other substances.