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:

 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.
 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.
 To stay healthy
There are lots of reactions taking place in the cells of your body to keep you
healthy and your body 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. These are:

1. Carbohydrates
2. Proteins
3. Fat
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 Pasta, cereals, and potatoes.
our diet should comprise
‘carbs’.
FATS Provides slow energy. 25% of Oils, dairy products, nuts, and
Unsaturated fats are our diet should be fat. fish.
healthy. Too much saturated
fat from animal products
can lead to heart disease.
PROTEIN Builds and repairs muscle. We Meats, pulses, and fish
only need 15% of our diet to
be protein.
VITAMINS Helps the body work. Helps Fresh fruit and vegetables.
A- for vision concentration.
B- for energy production
and stress reduction
C- to keep skin healthy
D- to help bones and teeth
MINERALS Helps release energy from Fruit, vegetables, and fish.
Calcium-to strengthen bones food. Helps decision making.
Iodine-energy production
Iron-prevent fatigue
FIBRE Can’t be digested. Fills you up Fresh fruit, vegetables, and
and keeps you ‘regular’ wholegrain cereals
WATER Maintains fluid level The lap! It’s all you need most
of the time.