Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

Photosynthesis and Metabolism
As we just learned in the previous section, cells are the most basic building blocks of life.
Cells make up your tissues, organs, and ultimately, you as a human being. And every one of
those cells needs energy to perform their specific functions. Where does that energy come
from? It comes from the macronutrients that we eat—carbohydrates, protein, and fat. In
order to understand how the cells of the body put that energy to use, you must have a basic
understanding of photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and the relationship between these
two processes.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Photosynthesis is essential to all life on earth; both plants and animals depend on it. It is the
only biological process that can capture energy that originates from sunlight and convert it
into a chemical compound (glucose) that every organism uses to power its daily functions.
Photosynthesis is also a source of oxygen necessary for many living organisms.
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