Nutrition

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Why do we eat?

Good nutrition will:

provide better health

ensure a stronger immune system

mean that you become ill less often

help you learn more effectively

makes you stronger

makes you more productive

What's in a balanced diet?

A balanced diet must provide for both growth and repair and sufficient energy. Yhere are seven components in a balanced diet:

carbohydrates - these are our main source of energy

proteins - these are essential for growth and repair of muscle and other body tissues

fats - these are essential as a source of energy and are also important in cell membranes, waterproofing, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and many other roles

vitamins - these play many important roles in the chemical processes tkaing place inside cells. Some are water-soluble and some are fat-soluble

minerals - these are the inorganic elements occurring in the body that are essential to its normal functions

water - this is essential to body function. It is used in transporting substances around the body and as a main component of the body. About 60% of the human body is water.

Fibre or roughage - this is the indigestible part of our food. It is essential for healthy functioning of the digestive system

How much of each component do we need?

In general energy intakes should come from:

57% carbohydrate

30% fats

13% protein

Obesity is not just a problem of excess fat. The location where the fat is deposited also has an effect. People with extra fat around the middle are more at risk than people with excess fat around their thighs and hips.

In the early 1980s, 6% of men and 8% of women in the UK were obese. Twenty years later, the figures show that 25% of men and 20% of women are obese. Of even more concern is that the number of obese children is also increasing. In the USA between 1995 and 2004, obesity in girls aged 11-15 rose from 15% to 26% and in boys from 14 to 24%.

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