HEALTH AND NUTRITION - PAGE 1

 

A healthy and well balanced diet means eating a variety of foods that contain all the different nutrients and the correct amounts.

WHY DO WE NEED NUTRIENTS?

We need nutrients for the growth, maintenance and repair and healthy functioning of our bodies.

THE NUTRIENTS

1) CARBOHYDRATES
2) PROTEINS
3) VITAMINS4) MINERALS
5) FATS
6) WATER

CARBOHYDRATES

There are 2 types of carbohydrates:-
a) Complex (starch combined with dietary fibre):-
Complex carbohydrates provide our bodies with a slow and steady release of energy. They should make up approximately 60% of our daily diets. Carbohydrates are found in foods such as:- cereals, grains, bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, vegetables and fruits.

b) Simple (sugar):-
Simple carbohydrates provide our bodies with a very quick and short burst of energy, usually making us feel very slow and lacking in energy afterwards. Simple sugars have no nutritional value, but plenty of calories. These sugars are found in sweetened fruit juices/fizzy drinks, sweets and chocolates, cakes, ice-cream, most desserts and a lot of breakfast cereals (read the product label before you buy).

PROTEINS

Proteins provide our bodies with energy, is better used for growth and repair of our bodies. Proteins should make up approximately 10-20% of our daily diets. We can find proteins in foods such as:- vegetables, pulses, dairy products, fish, meats, cereals and nuts.