Chemical composition of the product: micro and macro components

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 00:50

As you know, the chemical components of all foodstuffs are very diverse. That is why they should be classified. The classification currently provides for only two groups: microcomponents and macrocomponents. Let's try to figure out how they differ.

What are macro components?

These ingredients are part of the product of almost any kind. We often encounter macro-components by eating ordinary food. Let's list the substances that are related to the category of macronutrients.

• First, it's proteins. These include proteins, which are macromolecular substances. They are chemically defined as polymers of amino acids. Free peptides are also classified as proteins.
• Secondly, these are carbohydrates. They can be polymeric as well as oligomeric. These include disaccharides and monosaccharides. The brightest representatives of the latter are fructose and glucose.
• Third, these are fats. They are esters of glycerol, whichmay have a different composition regarding the arrangement of fatty acids.

It's no secret that the composition of the product of any origin includes ordinary water. Many chemists also refer to water as a macrocomponent. But due to its functions, it is considered as a separate, special case, which, accordingly, has its own characteristics.

What are microcomponents?

First of all, they include biologically active compounds. They are a variety of dietary fiber and vitamins. They can also be presented as organic acids.

In addition, micro-components include minerals such as potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, calcium and others.

What is the purpose of the components?

The composition of the product suggests the presence of various components responsible for certain functions. Each representative from the previously listed groups has its own individual appointment.

Fats and carbohydrates, related to macrocomponents, allow you to replenish the energy that the human body spends during one time or another. Proteins play a much smaller role in this regard. I would also like to note the fact that protein is one of the main elements on which, so to speak, the construction of the body is based. If we draw an analogy with construction, then protein can be called an indispensable building material.

Microcomponents are responsible for successfulimplementation of physiological reactions. In most cases, this function is assigned directly to minerals, as well as vitamins. Minerals are involved in the formation of cell membranes, or to be more precise, their electrical potential. Nucleotides in our body are present in order to transmit information.

What is the chemical composition of foods?

The composition of the product is a fairly broad concept. It includes many criteria and factors. One of the main ones is calories. Of course, everyone has heard of her. Otherwise, it is called energy value.

This parameter characterizes the energy that will be released after the process of assimilation of the product that you have eaten. We constantly need one or another amount of energy, since many processes occurring in the body require its consumption. It is worth noting that the energy must fall within a strictly allotted range. It should not be less or more, because in this case the normal functioning of the body will be disrupted, which will negatively affect he alth.

The chemical composition of products includes both microcomponents and macrocomponents. They are equally required by the human body.

Are there “perfect” foods?

Currently, you can find quite a few people who believe that the composition of foods can be, without exaggeration, ideal. This refers to the idea that one product can, in use, replace all others, satisfy all(or most) the needs of the human body. So, there were no such miracles in nature, there are not, and probably never will be. The composition of foods has never been perfect, each product has its own advantages and disadvantages in biological terms.

There are, of course, pinpoint exceptions. However, they are very rare and their scope is not so wide. To make it clear to you what we are talking about, we will give an example: mother's milk. It is an indispensable food product, but only for an infant. It 100% satisfies his needs. But, as mentioned earlier, the scope of such products is limited. In addition, the more the child's body develops, the wider its needs become. There is a certain dependence on quality, and not just quantity.

Conclusion

The compatibility table will show how compatible certain products are: X - well compatible, C - compatible, H - incompatible.

Product

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

1. Meat, fish

0

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

X

С

N

N

N

N

N

2. Pulses

N

0

С

X

X

N

С

N

N

N

X

X

N

N

N

N

С

3. Butter, cream

N

С

0

С

N

N

X

X

С

N

N

N

N

N

С

N

N

4. Sour cream

N

X

С

0

С

N

X

X

X

С

X

X

N

X

С

С

N

5. Vegetable oil

N

X

N

С

0

N

X

X

С

С

X

X

N

N

N

N

X

6. Sugar, confectionery

N

N

N

N

N

0

N

N

N

N

X

N

N

N

N

N

N

7. Bread, cereals, potatoes

N

С

X

X

X

N

0

N

N

N

X

X

N

N

С

N

С

8. Sour fruits, tomatoes

N

N

X

X

X

N

N

0

X

С

X

С

N

С

X

N

X

9. Semi-acid fruits

N

N

С

X

С

N

N

X

0

X

X

С

С

X

С

N

X

10. Sweet fruits, dried fruits

N

N

N

С

С

N

N

С

X

0

X

С

С

X

N

N

С

11. Vegetables are green, non-starchy

X

X

N

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

0

X

N

X

X

X

X

12. Starchy vegetables

С

X

N

X

X

N

X

С

С

С

X

0

С

X

X

С

X

13. Milk

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

С

С

N

С

0

N

N

N

N

14. Cottage cheese, dairy products

N

N

N

X

N

N

N

С

X

X

X

X

N

0

X

N

X

15. Cheese, cheese

N

N

С

С

N

N

С

X

С

N

X

X

N

X

0

N

С

16. Eggs

N

N

N

С

N

N

N

N

N

N

X

С

N

N

N

0

N

17. Nuts

N

С

N

N

X

N

С

X

X

С

X

X

N

X

С

N

0

The composition of products can tell a lot. Vitamins, for example, belonging to different groups, can tell you what effect you can get from eating a product. An excellent example can also be the composition of dry rations that the military has. The states are different, the uniforms are different, in fact, everything is different, however, the dry ration of a serviceman of any state will contain at least 5 components.

Professional athletes (and most amateurs too) pay special attention to the composition of products. The table helps to properly distribute the load on the body in terms of nutrition with the help of a special combination.