This document discusses why food is important and the essential nutrients the body needs. It explains that food provides energy and nutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are macronutrients that provide energy and help the body function and grow, while vitamins and minerals are micronutrients needed in smaller amounts. A balanced diet containing foods from all groups in moderate amounts is important for overall health and nutrition.

1. HEALTHYHEALTHY LIVINGLIVING
FORM 2FORM 2

2. FOOD – WHY IS ITFOOD – WHY IS IT
IMPORTANT?IMPORTANT?
► To eat is one of the seven vital functions aTo eat is one of the seven vital functions a
living thing doesliving thing does
► Food satisfies the hunger but most of all itFood satisfies the hunger but most of all it
is a source from which one obtains:is a source from which one obtains:
ENERGYENERGY
NUTRIENTSNUTRIENTS

3. ENERGYENERGY
►Without energy the body will shut down asWithout energy the body will shut down as
most chemical reactions will not be able tomost chemical reactions will not be able to
occur eg:occur eg:
►Without energy we are not able to:Without energy we are not able to:
►MOVEMOVE
►THINKTHINK
►REACTREACT

4. NUTRIENSNUTRIENS
►They are chemicalsThey are chemicals
►Needed by the body to :Needed by the body to :
►LIVE AND GROWLIVE AND GROW
►REGULATE BODY PROCESSESREGULATE BODY PROCESSES
►REPAIR TISSUESREPAIR TISSUES

5. ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTSESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
► Essential nutrients are:Essential nutrients are:
► Obtained from external sources since the bodyObtained from external sources since the body
can’t produce sufficient amounts of itcan’t produce sufficient amounts of it
► Not all nutrients are required in the same amounts.Not all nutrients are required in the same amounts.
► Those needed in low amounts are:Those needed in low amounts are:
► MICRONUTRIENTSMICRONUTRIENTS
► Those needed in larger amounts are:Those needed in larger amounts are:
► MACRONUTRIENTSMACRONUTRIENTS

6. MAIN NUTRIENTSMAIN NUTRIENTS
► The nutrients mostThe nutrients most
important for the bodyimportant for the body
to function and growto function and grow
are:are:
► PROTEINSPROTEINS
► FATSFATS
► CARBOHYDRATESCARBOHYDRATES

7. CARBOHYDRATESCARBOHYDRATES
►They are very important sources of energyThey are very important sources of energy
and include:and include:
►GLUCOSEGLUCOSE
►STARCHSTARCH
►Important sources of carbohydrates include:Important sources of carbohydrates include:
►Pasta, Bread & PotatoesPasta, Bread & Potatoes

8. PROTEINSPROTEINS
►The main nutrients that help the body to :The main nutrients that help the body to :
►Build new cellsBuild new cells
►Repair body tissueRepair body tissue
►Good sources of proteins include:Good sources of proteins include:
►Nuts, eggs and milkNuts, eggs and milk

9. FATSFATS
►These are the nutrients which provide theThese are the nutrients which provide the
most amount of energymost amount of energy
►Too much of it is stored as excess bodyToo much of it is stored as excess body
tissue in the bodytissue in the body
►Sources of fat include:Sources of fat include:
►Butter, cheese, Oils, certain animal meatButter, cheese, Oils, certain animal meat

10. FATSFATS
►All of the kind of nutrients mentioned areAll of the kind of nutrients mentioned are
important for the body and a missing oneimportant for the body and a missing one
will cause:will cause:
►MALNUTRITION (when a nutrient is missingMALNUTRITION (when a nutrient is missing
in the body.in the body.
►All of them are needed in MODERATEAll of them are needed in MODERATE
amounts.amounts.

11. VITAMINSVITAMINS
►These also are nutrients needed by theThese also are nutrients needed by the
body however they are required in lowerbody however they are required in lower
amounts.amounts.
►Vitamins include:Vitamins include:
►VITAMIN AVITAMIN A
►VITAMIN CVITAMIN C
►VITAMIN DVITAMIN D

12. Vitamin A:Vitamin A:
►Helps the eye sight and can be obtainedHelps the eye sight and can be obtained
from sources like:from sources like:
►CARROTSCARROTS
►GREEN VEGETABLESGREEN VEGETABLES
►LEGUMES (including beans, peas,LEGUMES (including beans, peas,
chickpeas)chickpeas)

13. Vitamin C:Vitamin C:
►Helps in the resistance of infections andHelps in the resistance of infections and
increases the strength of the immuneincreases the strength of the immune
systemsystem
►Can be obtained mostly from:Can be obtained mostly from:
►Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit)Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit)
►Grapes, ApplesGrapes, Apples
►A lack of vitamin C can result in ScurvyA lack of vitamin C can result in Scurvy
(bleeding of gums)(bleeding of gums)

14. Vitamin DVitamin D
►Responsible for strong bones and teeth andResponsible for strong bones and teeth and
can be obtained from:can be obtained from:
►MilkMilk
►Cod liver oilCod liver oil
►TunaTuna
►A poor supply of vitamin D can causeA poor supply of vitamin D can cause
Ricketts were the bones become softRicketts were the bones become soft

15. MINERALSMINERALS
►Like vitamins minerals are needed by theLike vitamins minerals are needed by the
body in small amounts.body in small amounts.
►Important minerals include:Important minerals include:
►Iron and CalciumIron and Calcium

16. CalciumCalcium
►Calcium is found mainly in dairy productsCalcium is found mainly in dairy products
and it helps bones to get stronger.and it helps bones to get stronger.

17. IronIron
►Iron is found mainly in meat and vegetables.Iron is found mainly in meat and vegetables.
►A low intake of iron can cause ANEMIAA low intake of iron can cause ANEMIA
(a decrease in the number of red blood cells)(a decrease in the number of red blood cells)

18. WATERWATER
►A great percentage of our body is made upA great percentage of our body is made up
of water since most chemical reactionsof water since most chemical reactions
require water to occurrequire water to occur
►Intake of water should be frequently so as toIntake of water should be frequently so as to
replace water that is continuously being lostreplace water that is continuously being lost
from our body through sweat and droughtfrom our body through sweat and drought

19. A BALANCED DIETA BALANCED DIET
►Eating all of the food groups in MODERATEEating all of the food groups in MODERATE
amounts is the healthy way for the body toamounts is the healthy way for the body to
function correctly.function correctly.
►Malnutrition is experienced if any of the foodMalnutrition is experienced if any of the food
groups is missing and the body would begroups is missing and the body would be
lacking important chemicals it requires.lacking important chemicals it requires.