Macromolecules

What is in the food you eat?

Carbohydrates

We know CARBS as sugars and starches.

They are found in bread, fruits, vegetables, pasta, rice, potatoes, candy…

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are made of long chains of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Carbo = Carbon

Hydrate = Hydrogen + Oxygen

Uses for Carbohydrates

In plants

Carbohydrates are created by photosynthesis

They are stored as the body of the plant (that is why when we eat fruits and vegetables, we get carbohydrates)

In animals

Carbohydrates are broken down through cellular respiration

They are used as FUEL in the cell.

Proteins Proteins are found in meat, milk, fish, and beans

Proteins

Proteins

Proteins are made up of chains of POLYPEPTIDE CHAINS

Polypeptides are made up of AMINO ACIDS

Amino acids are molecules made up of ATOMShttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lijQ3a8yUYQ

Uses for Proteins

Proteins are essential in keeping life processes running and have a variety of purposes.

Structural proteins make up your skin and hair

Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in the blood

Antigens are proteins and help fight disease and infection

Other proteins transmit chemical messages and manage chemical reactions.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9G0zzdQx-M&feature=

related

Lipids

Lipids are what we call know as FATS

They are OILY and WAXY and are INSOLUABLE in water

Lipids are found in fried foods, potato chips, meat, donuts

Lipids

Lipids have hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends.

Hydro = Water

Philic = Loves

Phobic = Fears

Hydrophilic = Loves Water

Hydrophobic = Fears Water

Uses for Lipids

Lipids make up the CELL MEMBRANE by pairing up to form a lipid bi-layer with hydrophobic ends on the inside and hydrophilic ends on the outside.

Lipids are also used as HORMONES and STEROIDS in the body.

Nucleic Acids

Nuclei Acids are made of NUCLEOTIDES

Nucleotides are molecules made up up phosphate, sugar, and nitrogen.

Nucleic acids are found in foods with high protein content.

They are NOT found on a nutritional label!

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acids carry GENETIC INFORMATION

They are the building blocks of DNA and RNA!

In the double helix, nucleic acids are the RUNGS of the latter.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins are ORGANIC substances that are needed by your body in tiny amounts to carry out important tasks. Vitamins come from plants and animals.

Minerals are INORGANIC substances that are needed by your body in tiny amounts to carry out important tasks. Minerals come from the Earth or water.

Examples

Vitamin A is needed for vision

Vitamin C is needed for healthy skin

Calcium is needed for strong bones

Iron is essential for carrying oxygen in the blood

Employment Opportunity:

NUTRITIONISTWhat does a

nutritionist do? Nutritionists are specialists of

nutrition. Some nutritionists do research while others help people who have nutritional deficiencies and eating disorders. Nutritionist can work for schools, hospitals, or nursing homes to supervising meal planning to ensure that nutritional requirements are met. At a hospital, a nutritionist might work with cancer patients to help them fight disease with proper nutrition.

A nutritionist who helps people lose weight is called a Dietician.

How do you become a nutritionist/dietician?

Graduate from high school

Talk to a nutritionist or dietician about what the work is like.

Find an internship with an existing nutritionist at a community center or nursing home.

Get an Associates degree or BS

There are many programs in Denver that offer Certificates (ex. NTI or Metro)

An entry level position pays $38,000 a year.