Final answer:
The statement is false; micronutrients like zinc do not provide energy but are important for bodily functions. Energy comes from macronutrients like carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that when the body takes in micronutrients such as zinc, it works to break it down, turning it into energy, is false. Micronutrients, which include vitamins and minerals, do not provide energy but are crucial for the body's metabolic processes and overall functioning. The energy-yielding nutrients are primarily carbohydrates, lipids (fats), and proteins, which are broken down during digestion to smaller molecules that can be used in metabolic processes to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the body's energy currency.
Micronutrients participate in various essential chemical reactions and processes, such as contributing to the body's structure and functioning of nerve impulses. Some micronutrients, like certain vitamins, cannot be synthesized by the body and must be consumed through diet or supplements. While the body can store some micronutrients, such as certain vitamins and minerals, others like vitamin C and most B vitamins are water-soluble and require regular consumption since they cannot be stored.