nutrient

Everyday

1. A nutrient is a substance in food that a living thing needs to grow, stay healthy and have energy, like protein, vitamins and minerals. tree →
2. For plants, nutrients are substances they take from the soil, like nitrogen. tree →

In the lessons

In science and health lessons pupils learn the main nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water. Food labels list nutrients. In plant lessons, roots take in water and nutrients. Phrases: rich in nutrients, nutrient-rich, essential nutrients.

Examples

• Vegetables are full of nutrients. tree →
• Plants take nutrients from the soil through their roots. tree →
• Protein is a nutrient that helps you grow. tree →
• Milk has the nutrient calcium for strong bones. tree →
• Chips have lots of fat but few other nutrients. tree →
• The label shows the nutrients in each serving. tree →
• Compost adds nutrients to the garden. tree →
• Blood carries nutrients around the body. tree →

Note

Countable: nutrients. Related words: nutrition (the science of food), nutritious (full of nutrients). Myth: one "superfood" does not give all the nutrients; a mix of foods does. In problems, nutrients per serving are multiplied by number of servings.