9.1 Nutrition in Animals

What Is in Our Food?

• The food we eat — roti, dal, paneer, rice — contains three main components.
• Carbohydrates give the body energy — starch in chapati, sugar in fruits.
• Proteins help the body grow and repair — dal, paneer, and eggs are rich in protein.
• Fats store energy and protect organs — ghee, oil, and butter contain fats.
• The body cannot absorb these directly — they are too big and complex.

Where Does Digestion Happen?

• Digestion happens inside a long tube called the alimentary canal — from mouth to anus.
• As food moves through the canal, digestive juices break it into simpler forms.
• These simple forms are absorbed into the blood and carried to every cell.