Chapter 2 Nutritional Needs
The variety of foods available in the marketplace is virtually unlimited. Even so, many people do not choose foods wisely. Children and teenagers often eat too many sweets and fats and not enough breads, cereals, vegetables, fruits, and milk. The elderly often skip meals or fail to eat the foods that supply the nutrients they need. Many people do not eat balanced meals because they do not know the amounts of foods they need to eat for good nutrition.
SUMMARY
Food provides the body with six basic types of nutrients. These are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. Individual nutrients within these groups each serve specific functions. No one food supplies all of the nutrients the body needs. Health problems arise when there are deficiencies or excesses of various nutrients. Eating a variety of foods is the best way to get appropriate amounts of all of the nutrients.
Your body must break down the foods you eat into components it can use. This happens during the digestion process. The digestion process involves both a mechanical and a chemical phase. After foods have been broken down in the digestive tract, the body absorbs them. Then they are metabolized in the cells.
Your energy needs are based on your basal metabolic requirements and your activity level. The energy value of the foods you eat depends on the amount of carbohydrate, fat, and protein in the food. The way the energy provided by the foods you eat compares with your energy needs affects your body weight.
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