Final answer:
Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats can all be broken down by human enzymes to yield energy for the body. These nutrients are metabolized to produce ATP, which is the energy currency of the cells. Excess energy is stored as glycogen or converted into fat.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the nutrients that can be broken down by human enzymes to yield energy are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These are known as energy-yielding nutrients. Carbohydrates are often considered the body's primary source of energy and are first to be metabolized. They are broken down into glucose, which then provides energy in the form of ATP. Proteins are mainly utilized for building and repairing body tissues, but they can also be used for energy, especially when carbohydrates are scarce. Fats are a concentrated energy source and are metabolized to provide ATP when carbohydrate sources are depleted.
Each of these macronutrients undergoes specific metabolic pathways to be converted into ATP, which is the energy currency of cells. While ATP is required for proper cellular function, any excess energy from these nutrients that is not needed immediately by the body can be stored, often as glycogen in the liver and muscle tissues or as triglycerides in adipose tissue.