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CHAPTER 2. FORM 5

NUTRITION AND FOOD PRODUCTION

2.1 THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING GOOD NUTRITION AND PRACTISING

GOOD EATING HABITS

1. Nutrition means the intake of nutrients by living organisms.

2. Why do we need food?

1. To .................................
2. As a source of energy
3. To carry out life
process.

3. The amount of energy content in food is called ................................................

4. The calorific value of a food can be determined by using a ...............................

FACTORS THAT AFFECTING THE CALORIE INTAKE OF AN INDIVIDUAL.

...................... ..................................
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WHY a) A man needs more calories than a female?

.........................................................................................................
b) A labourer needs more calories than a clerk?
.....................................................................................................
c) A child or a teenager needs more calories than an old person.?
.........................................................................................................
d) A fat boy needs more calories than a thin boy?
.......................................................................................................
e) A sick person needs more calories than a healthy person?
......................................................................................................

HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO IMPROPER NUTRITION.....

A) Malnutrition
B) Obesity
C) Anorexia Nervousa

A) Malnutrition
 If his diet contains insufficient or excess amount of certain nutrients.
 Can lead to many problems such as......

Health problems Cause by

Scurvy
Lack of vitamin D, calcium, phosporus
Night blindness
Lack of protein
Gout Excessive intake of protein rich food.
High blood pressure Excessive intake of fat, salt, cholestrol
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B ) Obesity
o If his body weight exceeds the ideal weight by 20% or more.
o Can cause high blood pressure, ........................................ and diabetes.

C) Anorexia Nervosa.
⇒ This is a psychological illness.
⇒ Due to intense fear of getting fat and starving oneself to become
thin and underweight.
⇒ Occurs more often in adolescent .........................
⇒ May suffer malnutrition, lose a lot of weight and even death.

UNHEALTHY EATING HABITS

UNHEALTHY EATING HABITS CONSEQUENCES

Too much fat and fried food Arteriochlorosis
High blood pressure and heart
disease

Too much snack and junk food High blood pressure

Diabetes Mellitus
Irregular meal times or skipping Gastric , ulcers
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meal

2.2 THE NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF PLANTS

1. Plants also need food and they produce their own food through ..............................
2. Plants need two types of nutrients :

a) MACRONUTRIENTS

Nutrients needed in large quantities. Examples: carbon, hydrogen,

NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, POTASSIUM, CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM and
SULPHUR.

.
MACRONUTRIEN Function Effect of Deficiency
NITROGEN – Needed to synthesis Yellow leaves
chlorophyll and protein
PHOSPHORUS Carry out photosynthesis Retard growth
Purple or red spot on leaves
POTASSIUM Needed for the metabolism of Yellow patches, dead tissue
protein and carbohydrate at tip and edges of leaves

b) MICRONUTRIENT

Nutrients needed in small quantities. Examples: BORON, ZINC, COPPER,

IRON and MANGANESE.

2.3 THE NITROGEN CYCLE AND ITS IMPORTANCE

1. Nitrogen is important to synthesise protein.

2. Plants can only use nitrogen in the form of ions ie nitrate ions.
3. The process is important to ensure that the constant supply of nitrates in the soil,
enables the nitrogen element to be recycled in nature and to maintain the balance
of nature.
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4. There are four processes in nitrogen cycle.

A) Nitrogen fixation
B) Putrefaction
C) Nitrification
D) Denitrification

A ) Nitrogen Fixation
The changes of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrate ions.
Can be carried out naturally by lightning and by nitrogen fixing bacteria.

B) Putrefaction
The proteins in dead animal’s or plants tissues will be decomposed into
ammonium compounds by bacteria and fungi.

C ) Nitrification
Ammonium compounds are oxidized into nitrites and then nitrates by nitrifiying
bacteria.

D ) Denitrification
Nitrates are changed into nitrogen gases by denitrifying bacteria.

( Draw ) A The nitrogen cycle

Why the nitrogen cycle is important?

1. Enables the nitrogen elements to be recycled in nature.

2. To maintain the balance of nature.
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3. Helps to maintain the fertility of the soil.

2.4 APPRECIATING THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING GOOD NUTRITION.

1. Healthy eating habits will be incomplete without having a healthy balance

diet.
2. A person who practises healthy eating habits enjoys the benefits of having
healthy body, a better quality of life and a longer life.
3. Food resources are always available in our country but not available in some
poor countries.
4. Proper management of food resources is important to ensure an adequate supply
of food.
5. Several methods can be used to ensure the proper management of food supply.

a) Use good breeds with desirable characteristics.

b) Use modern and efficient machineries.
c) Store food in cool and dry places to keep it last longer.
d) Avoid cooking more food than is needed.

THE END