A HEALTHY DIET

NUTRIENTS
A chemical that is needed by the
body to keep it in good health is
called nutrient. Nutrient can be
divided into the following groups:
 Carbohydrates
 Fats
 Proteins
 Vitamins
 Minerals
NUTRIENTS
CARBOHYDRATES
• Carbohydrates are made from
elements carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen. The atoms of these elements
are linked together to form molecules
of sugar. Sugars can either be simple or
complex. Examples of simple sugars
include glucose, fructose and
galactose. Complex sugars are formed
from condensation of two or more
simple sugars e.g sucrose, maltose,
lactose e.t.c.
PROTEINS:
proteins are made from atoms of
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and
nitrogen. Some protein also contain
sulphur. They are needed for
building the structures inside cells
and in the formation of tissues and
organs. They are also needed for
growth of the body, to repair
damaged parts and formation of
enzymes.
FATS AND OILS:
fats and oils are known as lipids.
They are made of large numbers of
carbon and hydrogen atoms
together with a few oxygen atoms.
Fats are needed for the formation
of cell membrane. They also
contain larger amounts of energy
than carbohydrates.
In mammals, the fat forms a layer
under the skin which act as a heat
insulator and helps to keep the
mammal warm in cool conditions.
VITAMINS:
Unlike carbohydrates, fats and
proteins, which are needed in
large amounts, vitamins are
needed in only small amounts.
 VITAMINS AND THEIR USES
VITAMINS EFFECT ON BODY
A Increased resistance to disease,
helps eyes to see in the dark.
B1 Prevents digestive disorders,
prevents the disease beriberi
C Prevent the disease scurvy in which Blackcurrant, orange,
gums bleed and the circulatory
system is damaged.
D Prevents the disease rickets in
which bones become soft and leg
bones of children may bend.
GOOD SOURCES
Milk, liver, cod – liver oil.
Bread, milk, brown rice,
soyabean, potato.
lemon, papaya, guava
Egg yolk, butter, cod-
liver oil, pilchard,
herring, sunlight.
MINERALS:
the body needs twenty different
minerals to keep healthy. Some
minerals, such as calcium are
needed in large amounts but
others, such as zinc, are needed in
only small amount and are known
as trace elements.
WATER:
About 70% of the human body is
water. The body can survive for
only a few days without a drink of
water.
FIBRE:
cellulose is a carbohydrate which
makes up the walls of plant cells.
The cellulose in food is known as
dietary fibre. We cannot digest
fibre but it helps to move food
along the intestines.
BALANCED DIET:
A balanced diet is one in which all
the nutrients are present in the
correct amounts to keep the body
healthy.
MALNUTRITION:
if a diet provides too few nutrients
or too many nutrients, malnutrition
occurs. Lack of a nutrient in a diet
may produce a deficiency disease,
such as scurvy or anaemia.
Scurvy is a deficiency disease
caused by a lack of vitamin C and
anaemia is a deficiency disease
caused by a lack of iron.
 a. Deficiency of protein causes kwashiorkor
SYMPTOMS OF KWASHIOKOR
 Thin neck
 Big head
 Swollen belly
 Lack of appetite
 Thin limbs
 Sunken eye
 Weakness
a.Deficiency of vitamin B1: Beriberi
c. Deficiency of vitamin D: Ricket
DEFICIENCY OF VITAMIN C: SCURVY
 Deficiency of vitamin K:
Haemorrhage – failure of blood to
clot
DIGESTION:
This is the process of making the
food into a form that can be taken
into the body. It takes place in the
digestive system, which is made
up of the alimentary canal and
organs such as the liver and
pancreas.
BREAKDOWN OF FOOD
There are two major processes in
the breakdown of food. They are
the physical and the chemical
breakdown of food.