Which of the following nutrients can your body use as sources of energy?

• A. Vitamins and minerals only
• B. Water and fiber only
• C. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats
• D. Nucleic acids and water

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the role of nutrients in the body. Nutrients are substances that provide energy and are essential for growth, repair, and maintaining bodily functions. Not all nutrients serve as direct sources of energy.
2. Step 2: Identify the three macronutrients that the body uses as primary energy sources: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These macronutrients are metabolized to release energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
3. Step 3: Clarify why vitamins, minerals, water, fiber, and nucleic acids are not direct energy sources. Vitamins and minerals are essential for various biochemical processes but do not provide energy. Water and fiber are important for hydration and digestion, respectively, but do not yield energy. Nucleic acids are involved in genetic information storage and transfer, not energy production.
4. Step 4: Explain the energy yield of macronutrients. Carbohydrates are the body's preferred energy source, yielding approximately 4 kcal per gram. Proteins also provide 4 kcal per gram but are primarily used for building and repairing tissues. Fats are the most energy-dense, yielding about 9 kcal per gram.
5. Step 5: Conclude by emphasizing that carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the correct answer because they are metabolized to produce energy, while other nutrients serve different roles in maintaining health and bodily functions.