NUTRITION

We all need a balanced diet to maintain our health. A balanced diet consists of an intake of several food sources which are;

·        Carbohydrates

·        Proteins

·        Fats

·        Vitamins

·        Mineral salts

·        Water

·        Roughage (dietary fibre)

All these combined can provide our cells the requirements to function. On average we need specific servings from 5 food groups, (please see the food pyramid).

Carbohydrates

This can be found in sugar, jam, cereals, bread, biscuits, pasta, convenience food, fruit and vegetables. Carbohydrates are useful for

·        rapid availability of energy and heat

·        protein sparing (when adequate supply of carbohydrates in diet, protein does not need to be used)

·        storage of carbohydrates under skin in fatty deposits when eaten in excess.

 Carbohydrates are a combination of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen and oxygen are the same proportion as in water. It comes in three different chemical substances which are;

·        monosaccharides

·        disaccharides

·        polysaccharides

Carbohydrates are digested in the alimentary canal and once absorbed form into monosaccharides. Examples of these are;

·        glucose

·        fructose

·        galactose

These are made up of a single molecule unit. This type of carbohydrate is the simplest form in which they exist. If this was to be broken down again it would cease to be a sugar.

A disaccharide is two monosaccharides chemically combined to form sugars these are

·        sucrose

·        maltose

·        lactose

Polysaccharides are made up of a large quantity of monosaccharides chemically combined which is;

·        glycogen

·        starch

·        cellulose

Not all polysaccharides can be digested by humans. Some substances e.g. cellulose can pass through the alimentary canal unchanged.