Nutrition 6 Essential Nutrients

What is Nutrition? What does nutrition mean to you? Do you have good nutrition? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being very low and 10 being very high What components make up how nutritious we are?

Nutrients for Health There 6 Major Nutrients that our body uses to complete daily processes and functioning

Carbohydrates starches and sugars that provide energy starches are complex carbohydrates and sugars are simple carbohydrates Starches  rice, pasta, breads, potatoes, beans and corn. Sugars  occur naturally in milk, fruit, and honey. Sugar is also added to many foods. * body’s most important source of energy *allows proteins to be used for building and repairing the body cells

Proteins Nutrients used to build, repair and maintain body cells and tissues Made from amino acids Enzymes, hormones and antibody proteins help regulate body processes Found in foods from animal sources Examples: meat, dairy products and eggs. Other examples of incomplete proteins from plants: beans, nuts and grains If you run out of carbohydrate or fat as a source of energy you use protein

Fat Nutrients that supply energy, keep the skin healthy and promote normal growth. Body’s secondary source of energy (stored) Adds flavour to food Insulates body from heat and cold Protects vital organs from injury Saturated fats are solid at room temperature – ex: butter, fats in meats. Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature – ex: from plant sources like vegetable oils, nuts olives and avocados Anyone think of another type popular in today’s media???

Vitamins Substances that help regulate body’s functions For example: help body to fight infections Water Soluble Vitamins (C, B1, B2, Niacin, B6, B12, folic acid) Fat Soluble Vitamins (A, D, E, K) Vitamin C – from fruits and vegetables Vitamin D – from milk or the sun Some people that do not get their daily intake of vitamins in food, take them in pill form

Minerals Nutrients that strengthen bones and teeth, help keep blood healthy and keep heart and other organs working properly Examples: Calcium, potassium and sodium Calcium – helps build and renew bones, dairy is a great source of calcium Potassium/Sodium – help maintain fluid balance in body. Sodium is found in salt

Water Without water your body would not be able to function Helps digestion, carries nutrients, removes wastes and regulates body temperature Drink 8-10 glasses of water each day

ABC’s of Good Health Aim for fitness Build a healthy base Choose Sensibly

Aim for fitness Being physically active every day and maintaining a healthy weight are important for fitness

Build a healthy base Eat a variety of foods to allow your body to function and stay healthy Make grains, fruits and vegetables be the base of your meals Make sure food is safe to eat, because harmful bacteria and viruses can cause food to spoil and make you sick

Choose Sensibly Avoid consuming too much fat ▫B▫Bad for your cholesterol which increases risk of heart disease Avoid consuming too much sugar ▫T▫Too much sugar can cause tooth decay Avoid consuming too much salt ▫T▫Too much salt may produce high blood pressure