Food and Nutrition Topic
Nutrients
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- Confident
Study focus - 3 things
- Nutrients are useful substances in food that help the body grow, repair, get energy, and stay healthy
- The main nutrient groups are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water, and fibre
- No single food gives everything, so meals need variety
Section 1What nutrients do
Nutrients are the parts of food your body uses. Some give energy, some help growth and repair, and some protect the body from illness. In plain words, that means food is not just for feeling full.
Section 2Nutrient groups
The main groups are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water, and fibre. Carbohydrates and fats mainly give energy. Proteins help with growth and repair, while vitamins and minerals help the body work properly.
Section 3Variety matters
The thing to remember is that different foods bring different nutrients. Rice and peas, chicken, callaloo, and fruit together give a wider mix than one food alone. Watch out: eating plenty food is not the same as eating a balanced mix.
Section 4Nutrients and health
Too little or too much of a nutrient can cause health problems. For example, too little iron may lead to anaemia, while too much fat and sugar can increase health risks over time.
Examples
A lunch has white rice only. What is missing from this meal?
Rice gives mostly carbohydrate. The meal needs protein, vegetables or fruit, and maybe a small amount of fat to become more balanced.
A student eats rice and peas, stewed chicken, steamed callaloo, and a slice of melon. Why is this better than eating fried chicken alone?
It gives a wider nutrient mix: carbohydrate from rice, protein from peas and chicken, vitamins and minerals from callaloo and melon, plus fibre from plant foods.
Now let's water it
Session runs notes to flashcards to quiz back-to-back.