Nutrients

• Carbohydrates are found in starchy foods like bread, pasta, and potatoes, as well as in fruits and vegetables
• Main reason we need carbohydrates is as an energy source
• Lipids refer to both fats and oils, with fats being solid at room temperature and oils being liquid at room temperature
• Lipids are found in foods like oily fish, nuts, seeds, dairy products, and avocados
• Main role of lipids is to provide energy and act as longer-term stores of energy
• Proteins are found in nuts, seeds, meat, fish, and legumes (lentils, beans)
• Proteins act as building blocks for growth and repair damaged tissue
• Proteins can be used for energy in emergencies if there's not enough carbohydrates or lipids
• Vitamins are organic molecules made by living organisms, needed in small amounts
• Vitamin A is important for good vision and healthy skin and hair, found in liver and leafy vegetables
• Vitamin C is needed to prevent scurvy, found in fruits like oranges
• Vitamin D helps absorb calcium, can be obtained from sunlight, eggs, and oily fish
• Minerals are inorganic and simpler molecules, needed in small amounts
• Calcium is found in dairy products and leafy vegetables, important for strong bones
• Iron is important for hemoglobin in red blood cells, found in red meat, spinach, and beans
• Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, affecting oxygen transport in the body
• Fiber is a type of carbohydrate found in wholemeal foods, fruits, and vegetables
• Fiber helps food move through intestines properly, preventing diarrhea or constipation
• Water is essential for the body, obtained from drinks and foods like oranges and strawberries
• Most of our body is made of water, about 70%
• We continuously lose water through breathing, sweating, and urinating, so it needs to be replaced constantly