Focus Area (Biology)

• 7 food groups and their function

  • Carbohydrates - short term energy store
  • Proteins - growth and repair of muscles
  • Lipids - insulation, protection, long term energy store
  • Vitamins - Vit C - is needed to help heal wounds and maintain healthy connective tissue (scurvy), Vit D - help absorb calcium, prevent rickets, keep strong healthy bones and teeth (rickets)
  • Minerals - calcium - strong bones and teeth (osteoporosis), Iron - pigment found in haemoglobin in RBC - oxygen binds to, transports to respiring cells (anaemia)
  • Water - needed for metabolic functions
  • Fibre - help move undigested material (faeces) through body, prevent constipation
• Deficiencies and function


  • Iron: found RBC- oxygen binds to it - transport oxygen round the body - Anaemia
  • Vitamin C: helps keep gums and skin healthy - scurvy
  • Fibre: undigestable material - helps move food through the digestive system - constipation
  • Vitamin D: healthy bones and teeth - helps absorb calcium - rickets