Biomolecules in the diet:
- Proteins are an essential part of any diet, providing numerous ways of support and service to allow the body to function as it's supposed to. First of all, proteins act as repair mechanisms to restore damaged muscle tissue, hair, skin, and nails in various parts of the body and even build up on it. Some proteins work as specific enzymes and hormones to aid the body in internal communication and chemical processes. Removing protein from the diet would result in many problems in maintaining tissue strength and carrying out important reactions inside the body.
- Lipids are also very important when it comes to maintaining homeostasis. Like carbohydrates, lipids perform the function of supplying energy for said organism. However, lipids provide a more reliable and ongoing source of energy, designed not to act immediately but to retain itself for an extended period of time. Lipids also act as storage units for later used energy. Sacs of lipids around the body can also help to insulate the body and maintain internal body temperature and protect internal organs. Lastly, and perhaps most the most crucial function, phospholipids are an essential portion of the cell membrane. Lipids are a very reliable source of energy, and without it the diet would only function in short bursts of energy.
- Carbohydrates, like lipids, are a main source of energy for animals. This biomolecule reacts fast and provides a fast wave of energy, though it diminishes quickly as well. Carbohydrates are part of the reactants in the cellular respiration process to make short term energy, or ATP, so they are essential in allowing an organism to function. Many people crave carbs, and this is because the body knows that carbohydrates are the quickest access to easy energy when the body is lacking it. Without carbs, there would be no quick satisfaction for a craving.
For a 15 year-old girl, the recommended amount of carbohydrates daily are 150-350 grams, or around 40-60% of daily calorie intake.
For a teenage girl of my weight, the recommended amount of protein daily is .5 grams per pound of body weight, or 55 grams daily.
For a girl with a 2000 calorie diet, the recommended intake of fat is 30% of total calories, which is 600 calories or 66 grams of fat daily.
For a teenage girl of my weight, the recommended amount of protein daily is .5 grams per pound of body weight, or 55 grams daily.
For a girl with a 2000 calorie diet, the recommended intake of fat is 30% of total calories, which is 600 calories or 66 grams of fat daily.
In my current diet, I feel that I am getting too many carbohydrates into my system, which drastically varies how I feel based on when I ate something last. I am missing proteins in my diet, so I sometimes feel drained or not inclined to do something because I don't have enough protein intake to help my body function. I think the amount of fat I consume is right because I never feel extensively hungry.
Vitamins:
http://www.acaloriecounter.com/diet/daily-protein-intake/
http://leavingbio.net/nutrition%20and%20food_files/nutrition%20and%20food.htm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/523443-the-role-of-protein-in-hormone-enzyme-functions/
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/balanced-diet-teenagers-total-carbohydrates-proteins-fats-11324.html
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/potassium
http://www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-potassium#1-2
- Vitamin D is a very important part of the diet because it helps maintain the strength of bones and helps muscles move. Vitamin D helps absorb calcium, which is what makes bones strong. This vitamin is generated from sunlight intake and some foods and is essential to every diet for correct body functions.
- If not enough vitamin D is in the body, bones will lose strength and may become brittle enough to break. Though this is common in elderly people, it can happen in small children, as well. This condition of weak bones is known as osteomalacia or "rickets".
- Potassium is also an essential mineral necessary in the common diet. It helps keep a normal balance between fluid in cells and other fluids in the body. It also helps keep the heart beating regularly and helps various contract and relax. It is also important in regular kidney, heart, and digestive functions.
- If there is not enough potassium in the body, the heart and muslces cannot function properly, leading to diseases such as heart disease and cancers.
http://www.acaloriecounter.com/diet/daily-protein-intake/
http://leavingbio.net/nutrition%20and%20food_files/nutrition%20and%20food.htm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/523443-the-role-of-protein-in-hormone-enzyme-functions/
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/balanced-diet-teenagers-total-carbohydrates-proteins-fats-11324.html
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/potassium
http://www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-potassium#1-2