science

• A balanced diet is a diet that contain all food classes that are required by the body, according to the healthy plate.
• Classes of food contains carbohydrate, protein, fibre, vitamin, water, mineral and fat.
• Carbohydrate is an organic compound that contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
• Carbohydrate supplies a lot of energy.
• Examples of carbohydrate are starch, glycogen and cellulose.
• Starch is the food stored in plants.
• Glycogen is the food stored in animals.
• Cellulose is the carbohydrate that forms the cell walls of plants.
• Protein is a food substances that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
• Proteins we eat are digested to the basic unit, amino acid.
• Protein is required for growth and to repair damaged damaged tissues and replace dead cells.
• Protein is also used to synthesize enzymes, hormones and antibodies.
• Fat contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
• Fat protects the organs of the body, acts as a transporter for vitamin A,D,E and K and acts as a heat insulator to regulate body temperature.
• Vitamin is an organic compound that does not supply energy.
• Vitamin is needed by the body to maintain good health.
• Vitamin can be classified into water-soluble and fat-soluble.
• Water-soluble vitamins are vitamin B and C..
• Fat=soluble vitamins are vitamin A,D,E and K.
• Vitamin A helps with night vision and maintain skin health. Effects of deficiency are night blindness and skin deceases.
• Vitamin B maintains the function of the nervous system and form red blood cells. Effects of deficiency are Beri-beri and Anaemia.
• Vitamin C fight diseases and maintain the health of gums and teeth. Effects of deficiency are Scurvy(bleeding gums).
• Vitamin D helps in the absorption in calcium, strengthen the tooth enamel and maintain skin health. Effects of deficiency are rickets, toothache and skin diseases.
• Vitamin E maintain the function of reproductive system, Effects of deficiency are sterility and baby miscarriage.
• Vitamin K speeds up the blood-clotting process. Effects of deficiency are prolonged bleeding.
• Fibre is a substance that cannot be digested by the digested system.
• Fibre contain cellulose that is found in the cell wall of plants.
• Fibre helps stimulate peristalsis, which is the contraction and relaxation of muscles along the digestive tract such as oesophagus and small intestine.
• Mineral is a non-organic substance required by the body.
• Mineral is required in small quantity to maintain good health.
• Calcium helps with blood-clotting and strengthen bones and teeth. Effects of deficiency are rickets and osteoporosis.
• Sodium maintains the function of the nervous system. Effects of deficiency are muscle cramps.
• Iron builds haemoglobin in the blood. Effects of deficiency are Anaemia.
• Iodine helps with the function of the thyroid glands. Effects of deficiency are Goiter.
• Phosphorus strengthen bones and teeth and forms nucleic acid in DNA and RNA. Effects of deficiency are rickets brittle teeth and unable to build DNA and RNA.
• Potassium helps with muscle contraction and maintain the function of the nervous system. Effects of deficiency are muscle cramps and paralysis.
• Water is a compound that contains hydrogen and oxygen.
• Water acts as a chemical solvent and a transportation medium of nutrients and oxygen in the cells
• Water transports waste materials such as urea and salt out of the cells and regulate the body temperature through the evaporation of sweat.
• Factors that would influence calorific requirement are body size, gender, work, climate, health state and age.