Why do we need food ?

Why do we need food?

We all enjoy and eat food but why do we need it and what does our body do with it? Following are some of the main reasons why we need food:

• Ø For Energy

You need food to work your muscles and other body organs. Food is the body’s fuel that keeps it going; without it the body would not work.

• Ø For growth and Repair

In order for your body to grow you need to make new cells. These cells are also needed to replace old or damaged cells. Your body makes these new cells from the chemicals in your food.

• Ø To stay healthy

There are lots of reactions taking place in the cells of your body to keep you healthy and your body is working. Certain chemicals are needed for these reactions that can only be taken in from the food you eat.

 

A Balanced Diet

In order to maintain good health, our body must have a healthy and balanced diet. This means that we must eat sufficient food and also a variety of foods. In this way our body gets all the different nutrients it needs.

There are seven nutrition groups found in the food we eat:

1.   

Carbohydrates

2.    Proteins

3.    Fats

4.    Fibre

5.    Vitamins

6.    Minerals

7.    Water

                                                                      

The different food groups, sources, and how they help:

Food Type	How does it help?	Where do we get it?
CARBOHYDRATES	Provides quick energy. 60% of our diet should comprise ‘carbs’.	Pasta, Cereals, and potatoes
FATS Unsaturated fats are healthy. Too much saturated fats from animal products can lead to heart disease.	Provides slow energy. 25% of our diet should be fat.	Oils, dairy products, nuts, and fish
PROTEIN	Builds and repairs muscle. We only need 15% of our diet to be protein	Meats, Pulses and Fish
VITAMINS A-    For vision B-     For energy production and stress reduction C-     to keep skin healthy D-    to help bones and teeth	Helps the body work. Helps concentration.	Fresh fruit and vegetables
MINERALS Calcium-            to strengthen bones Iodine-               for energy production Iron-                   prevents fatigue	Helps release energy from food. Helps decision making.	Fruit, vegetables, and fish
FIBER	Can’t be digested. Fills you up and keeps you ‘regular’	Fresh fruit, vegetables, and wholegrain cereals
WATER	Maintains fluid level	The lap! It’s all you need most of the time

By: Vatsalya Chauhan 

Gamsa Haeyo