Healthful Eating

Healthful Eating Chapter 14 PHS

Nutrients • The nutrients that keep your body working properly are divided into six major classes: Carbohydrates Proteins Fats Minerals Vitamins Water Healthy Eating-Ch 14

Carbohydrates • Carbohydrates are the major sources of energy in your diet. Most carbohydrates come from plants. There are three kinds of carbohydrates: sugar, starches, and fiber. • Sugars are simple carbohydrates found in foods such as milk, fruits, candy, and cookies. Healthy Eating-Ch 14

Starches are often called complex carbohydrates. Cereals, bread, rice, pasta, and starchy vegetables are good sources of starch. The starches must be converted into simple sugars during digestion. Healthy Eating-Ch 14

Fiber is a complex carbohydrate. Although your body cannot digest fiber, you need fiber in your diet. This is because fiber provides roughage that stimulates the normal activity of your intestines. Fiber moves food through your body and helps your body get rid of solid wastes. Healthy Eating-Ch 14

Proteins • Proteins are a nutrient found in every cell. They are needed for growth, maintenance, and repair of body tissues. Proteins are made up of amino acids. Your body uses proteins to produce enzymes and hormones. • These help the body maintain its chemical balance and build antibodies to fight infections. Healthy Eating-Ch 14

You may need extra protein • if you are recovering from an injury or illness to help replace and repair cells and • when you are growing to build new cells. Healthy Eating-Ch 14

Classes of Proteins There are two classes of proteins: • Complete proteins-supply all the amino acids your body needs. They come from foods that come from animals such as meat, poultry, fish, milk, cheese, and eggs. Healthy Eating-Ch 14

Incomplete proteins-sources that provide some of the amino acids your body needs. The foods that provide incomplete proteins are plant sources such as dried beans, peas, and nuts. When these foods are combined with foods that are complete proteins, all the needed proteins are provided. Healthy Eating-Ch 14

Examples of these foods are macaroni and cheese and a peanut butter sandwich. Proteins consumed beyond the body’s needs are stored in the body as fat. Healthy Eating-Ch 14

Fats Fats provide slightly more than twice as much energy per unit of weight as carbohydrates and proteins. Fat is stored beneath the surface of the skin to insulate the body from shock and temperature changes. Fat protects and cushions the organs in your body from injury. Fat in the diet is used to help the body distribute and use some vitamins. Healthy Eating-Ch 14

Healthful Eating