Activity 1
I. Questions for Review:
1. What is the role of nutrients in metabolism?
All living organisms require energy to do its job, function and purpose. Animals
consume food to replenish energy, same as with humans, we need such. The term
metabolism is all of the chemical reactions that take place inside of a cell. However, it
cannot occur and be done without the help and presence of nutrients we normally get
from the foods we ingest, which our body needs for energy, building materials, and
control of body processes that are divided into six major groups.
One of these is water which is the majority of what we consume and we use through
breathing, sweating and digestion, wherein dominates 64% of our body which makes
this as the most vital nutrient among all. It might seem that water is just only a plain and
tasteless fluid but this plays a big role to regulate temperature, maintain bodily functions
such as carrying substances around the blood, protecting body organs and tissues and
also this is needed in chemical reactions in our body that must be replenished often.
Vitamins function as a ”coenzymes or helper” molecule that is essential for a protein
enzyme to work. The aforementioned nutrients are not used as a building block or for
restoring energy but are essential to make use of other nutrients by the body such as
vitamin B12, biotin, and pantothenic acid which mainly use for metabolism. This also
includes minerals, a significant nutrient for the body as they have their own different
roles in metabolism and body functions as well as essential for the proper function of
cells, tissues, and organs. Some of the minerals crucial for metabolism include
magnesium, iron, potassium, etc. that make up part of many proteins and enzymes in
the body, maintain pH balance while at the same time, help to generate proteins from
amino acids and are involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Another nutrient that is
necessary for such, is carbohydrates also known as “simple sugar” categorized by
how many sugars the food contains. Lactose is one of the examples of disaccharides
(contain two sugar) also called as “milk sugar” since it is usually found in dairy products
like milk, cheese, and yogurt, but most of it comes from plant foods or dietary
carbohydrates such as grains, fruits and vegetables which its function is to give our
body a quick source of energy. Moreover, lipids or fats are a thing we always check
out on the nutrition facts of certain products when we buy groceries in a market. Most
fats found in food and in the human body are commonly called “triglycerides or
triacylglycerols” which are made of tree fatty acids and a glycerol. Only two fatty acids
, are known to be essential namely as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid. This nutrient
serves as structural components of cell membrane, function as energy storehouses and
important signaling molecules stored in adipose tissue. Lastly, 16% of our body made
up of proteins which helps in the formation of muscle and connective tissue, also make
up our enzymes which are responsible for biochemical reactions on our body,
hormones that regulate body functions. Soybeans and nuts are some of protein-based
foods that supply the body with fuel to repair and build tissues. Some of it transport
nutrients throughout the body while others store them. In addition, it acts as a
messenger that provides communication within our cells, tissues, and organs and even
regulates, maintains, and balances the body’ pH of the bloods and other bodily fluids
such as saliva, mucus, and urine. Unlike carbohydrates, protein takes longer to break
down in the body, thus providing a long-lasting energy source.
Hence, we can’t deny how important nutrients are in our body as it plays a vital role
in regulating and storing energy that puts ourselves into a safe and well state,away
from diseases as well as to have a long-healthier living. Without these, our body cannot
and will not function well, and might affect our overall performance or purposes as a
person. This proves and reminds us to be mindful of what we consume, either good or
bad to easily track what we should add or eliminate on our food meals.
2. What is the product of respiration?
Cellular respiration is the process in which the food we eat is broken down to
release energy in the form of ATP or adenosine triphosphate - a molecule that delivers
energy around our body which enables the cells to perform the functions it needs to
sustain life. Basically, all foods that we eat end up as glucose or sugar. Occurence of
most of the reactions included in cellular respiration is located inside of a living
organism’s cells called mitochondria. However respiration cannot produce ATP in an
instant, as it has a process and has to go through four primary stages in order for it to
do such.
Enzymes break down glucose into two molecules of pyruvate which releases two
ATP and NADH, this event happens during the glycolysis stage which takes place in
the cytoplasm. The next stage is preparatory reaction where it uses the pyruvate of
glycolysis stage to move into the mitochondria and converted into Acetyl CoA, then
later released carbon dioxide and more NADH is produced. During the stage three,
I. Questions for Review:
1. What is the role of nutrients in metabolism?
All living organisms require energy to do its job, function and purpose. Animals
consume food to replenish energy, same as with humans, we need such. The term
metabolism is all of the chemical reactions that take place inside of a cell. However, it
cannot occur and be done without the help and presence of nutrients we normally get
from the foods we ingest, which our body needs for energy, building materials, and
control of body processes that are divided into six major groups.
One of these is water which is the majority of what we consume and we use through
breathing, sweating and digestion, wherein dominates 64% of our body which makes
this as the most vital nutrient among all. It might seem that water is just only a plain and
tasteless fluid but this plays a big role to regulate temperature, maintain bodily functions
such as carrying substances around the blood, protecting body organs and tissues and
also this is needed in chemical reactions in our body that must be replenished often.
Vitamins function as a ”coenzymes or helper” molecule that is essential for a protein
enzyme to work. The aforementioned nutrients are not used as a building block or for
restoring energy but are essential to make use of other nutrients by the body such as
vitamin B12, biotin, and pantothenic acid which mainly use for metabolism. This also
includes minerals, a significant nutrient for the body as they have their own different
roles in metabolism and body functions as well as essential for the proper function of
cells, tissues, and organs. Some of the minerals crucial for metabolism include
magnesium, iron, potassium, etc. that make up part of many proteins and enzymes in
the body, maintain pH balance while at the same time, help to generate proteins from
amino acids and are involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Another nutrient that is
necessary for such, is carbohydrates also known as “simple sugar” categorized by
how many sugars the food contains. Lactose is one of the examples of disaccharides
(contain two sugar) also called as “milk sugar” since it is usually found in dairy products
like milk, cheese, and yogurt, but most of it comes from plant foods or dietary
carbohydrates such as grains, fruits and vegetables which its function is to give our
body a quick source of energy. Moreover, lipids or fats are a thing we always check
out on the nutrition facts of certain products when we buy groceries in a market. Most
fats found in food and in the human body are commonly called “triglycerides or
triacylglycerols” which are made of tree fatty acids and a glycerol. Only two fatty acids
, are known to be essential namely as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid. This nutrient
serves as structural components of cell membrane, function as energy storehouses and
important signaling molecules stored in adipose tissue. Lastly, 16% of our body made
up of proteins which helps in the formation of muscle and connective tissue, also make
up our enzymes which are responsible for biochemical reactions on our body,
hormones that regulate body functions. Soybeans and nuts are some of protein-based
foods that supply the body with fuel to repair and build tissues. Some of it transport
nutrients throughout the body while others store them. In addition, it acts as a
messenger that provides communication within our cells, tissues, and organs and even
regulates, maintains, and balances the body’ pH of the bloods and other bodily fluids
such as saliva, mucus, and urine. Unlike carbohydrates, protein takes longer to break
down in the body, thus providing a long-lasting energy source.
Hence, we can’t deny how important nutrients are in our body as it plays a vital role
in regulating and storing energy that puts ourselves into a safe and well state,away
from diseases as well as to have a long-healthier living. Without these, our body cannot
and will not function well, and might affect our overall performance or purposes as a
person. This proves and reminds us to be mindful of what we consume, either good or
bad to easily track what we should add or eliminate on our food meals.
2. What is the product of respiration?
Cellular respiration is the process in which the food we eat is broken down to
release energy in the form of ATP or adenosine triphosphate - a molecule that delivers
energy around our body which enables the cells to perform the functions it needs to
sustain life. Basically, all foods that we eat end up as glucose or sugar. Occurence of
most of the reactions included in cellular respiration is located inside of a living
organism’s cells called mitochondria. However respiration cannot produce ATP in an
instant, as it has a process and has to go through four primary stages in order for it to
do such.
Enzymes break down glucose into two molecules of pyruvate which releases two
ATP and NADH, this event happens during the glycolysis stage which takes place in
the cytoplasm. The next stage is preparatory reaction where it uses the pyruvate of
glycolysis stage to move into the mitochondria and converted into Acetyl CoA, then
later released carbon dioxide and more NADH is produced. During the stage three,
