Nutrients
1. Feeding Basics
2. More About Feeding
3. Nutrients
4. Practical Tips
5. Recipes
Nutrients are the part of an animal's food that can be dissolved in the intestines into a form that the body can utilise. Examples of these are sugar, fat, protein, and cellulose. Both animals and humans use nutrients to: build up tissues such muscle, for hair growth, and to maintain their body. In addition to this, nutrients are needed for energy production. Energy is used for moving, blood circulation, growth, production of warmth, and so on. The system produces energy from carbohydrates and proteins through many different reactions and finally through oxidising them.
Nutrients can be divided into organic and inorganic substances. Organic nutrients are carbohydrates, fat, proteins and vitamins. Inorganic nutrients are, in turn, trace elements, oxygen and water.
Proteins are needed for example for building up muscle tissue, milk production, and hair growth and production material of hormones and blood haemoglobin. Extra protein is turned into energy. For example dairy products, meat, fish, leguminous plants, vegetables and eggs contain proteins.
Tilli devouring additional protein |
Fats have an important part to play as well. They produce energy, give reserve nutritive substances, protect from the cold and bind fat dissolving vitamins, so that they would be usable for the system. Fats are available from both animal and vegetable products, i.e. dairy products, meat and fish, nuts, sunflower seeds and turnip rape & other oils.
Carbohydrates are the most important source of nutrients in the world. The serve as a considerable source of energy, because they burn better than fats. They keep up the sugar balance of blood. Extra carbohydrates are stored in the body as a layer of fat. Carbohydrates are found in for example bread, crops, potato, fruit and dairy products.
Vitamins have an important part in the metabolism. They are a necessity for regular growth, development and well being of mice and humans as well. Even a short term cause severe damages for the development of the bodily systems.
Vitamins are divided into two groups: water and fat dissolving. Water dissolving vitamins are vitamins in the C and B groups. For them it is typical that they are not stored into the body, so a deficiency condition may be developed in the matter of few days. Fat dissolving vitamins are vitamins in the group A, D, E & K. These vitamins are stored in the fat tissue of the body, so deficiency conditions do not develop as quickly as with water dissolving vitamins.
Some rodents are able to produce some of the vitamins themselves in their intestines. By eating its own droppings, the mouse gets Vitamin B and K.
Trace elements are needed in only a tiny amount. Nevertheless, they are integral for the well being of the body. They are used in various chemical reactions in the body.
On to next feeding article - Practical Tips
Text: Minna Koivu.