Nutrition

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Lesson notes

Balanced Diet

A **balanced diet** involves consuming appropriate amounts of each food group.
It is important to keep us healthy and prevent deficiency diseases.

Food Groups

**Carbohydrates** (e.g., bread, pasta, potatoes, rice) are broken into glucose for **respiration**.
**Lipids (fats)** (e.g., oil, cheese, butter, some meats) provide **long-term energy storage**.
**Proteins** (e.g., meat, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, nuts) are needed for **growth and repair** of tissues.
**Vitamins** (e.g., from fruit and vegetables) are needed for many aspects of health.
**Minerals** (e.g., from a wide variety of foods) are needed for many aspects of health.
**Fibre** (e.g., cereals, fruit, vegetables) helps food move through the intestines.
**Water** (e.g., any drink, fruit, vegetables) keeps us hydrated.

Deficiency Diseases

Lack of a food group can lead to a **deficiency disease**.
**Anaemia** – lack of iron (mineral); causes pale skin, tiredness, shortness of breath.
**Rickets** – lack of vitamin D; causes fragile, painful bones and bone growth problems.
**Scurvy** – lack of vitamin C; causes tiredness, swollen gums, tooth loss.
**Kwashiorkor** – lack of protein; causes stunted growth and inability to repair tissues.

Examples of Foods

Carbohydrates: bread, pasta, potatoes, rice.
Lipids: oil, cheese, butter, some meats.
Proteins: meat, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, nuts.
Vitamins and minerals: fruit and vegetables.
Fibre: cereals, fruit and vegetables.
Water: any drink, fruit and vegetables.

Food groups and their primary uses in the body.

Slides

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Practice questions

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1.Which of the following is the main reason a balanced diet is important?
Easy
- ATo keep us healthy
- BTo provide energy only
- CTo help us grow taller
- DTo prevent all diseases
2.How many food groups are mentioned in the table of a balanced diet?
Easy
- A5
- B6
- C7
- D8
3.Why is fibre needed in the diet?
Easy
- ATo help food move through the intestines
- BTo provide long-term energy storage
- CFor growth and repair of tissues
- DTo keep us hydrated
4.Which food group is broken down into simple sugars like glucose for respiration?
Easy
- AProteins
- BLipids
- CCarbohydrates
- DVitamins
5.What is the primary use of lipids (fats) in the body?
Easy
- AImmediate energy source
- BLong-term energy storage
- CGrowth and repair of tissues
- DHelping food move through intestines
6.Which of the following foods is a good source of protein?
Easy
- ABread
- BButter
- CMeat
- DRice
7.Which of the following foods is a good source of lipids?
Easy
- APasta
- BOil
- CBread
- DPotatoes
8.Which of the following statements is true?
Medium
- ACarbohydrates are needed for growth and repair of tissues.
- BPasta is an example of a food that contains a lot of carbohydrates.
- CCheese is an example of a food that contains a lot of fibre.
- DProteins are used for long-term energy storage.

Revision notes

## Nutrition - Revision Notes A **balanced diet** includes the right amounts of each food group to keep you healthy. ### Seven Food Groups - **Carbohydrates**: Broken into glucose for respiration. Examples: bread, pasta, potatoes, rice. - **Lipids (fats)**: Long-term energy storage. Examples: oil, cheese, butter, some meats. - **Proteins**: Needed for growth and repair of tissues. Examples: meat, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, nuts. - **Vitamins**: Needed for many health aspects. Found in fruit and vegetables. - **Minerals**: Needed for many health aspects. Found in a wide variety of foods. - **Fibre**: Helps food move through the intestines. Found in cereals, fruit, vegetables. - **Water**: Keeps us hydrated. Found in any drink, fruit, vegetables. ### Deficiency Diseases If you don't eat enough of a food group, you risk a deficiency disease: - **Anaemia**: Lack of iron. Symptoms: pale skin, tiredness, shortness of breath. Eat meat (good iron source). - **Rickets**: Lack of vitamin D in children. Symptoms: problems with bone growth, fragile/painful bones. - **Scurvy**: Lack of vitamin C. Symptoms: tiredness, swollen gums, loss of teeth. - **Kwashiorkor**: Lack of protein. Symptoms: stunted growth, inability to repair tissues. ### Key Points - Carbohydrates provide energy via respiration. - Lipids store energy long-term. - Proteins are for growth and repair. - Fibre aids digestion. - Water keeps you hydrated. Remember: A balanced diet prevents deficiency diseases.

Balanced diet: Consuming an appropriate amount of each food group to keep healthy.
Carbohydrates: Food group broken into glucose for respiration.
Lipids (fats): Food group used for long-term energy storage.
Proteins: Food group needed for growth and repair of tissues.
Vitamins: Food group needed for many aspects of health.
Minerals: Food group needed for many aspects of health.
Fibre: Food group that helps food move through the intestines.
Water: Food group needed to keep us hydrated.
Deficiency disease: Disease caused by lack of a food group.
Anaemia: Deficiency disease from lack of iron; causes pale skin, tiredness, shortness of breath.
Rickets: Deficiency disease from lack of vitamin D in children; causes bone problems.
Scurvy: Deficiency disease from lack of vitamin C; causes tiredness, swollen gums, tooth loss.
Kwashiorkor: Deficiency disease from lack of protein; causes stunted growth.

Flashcards

What is a balanced diet?

A balanced diet involves consuming an appropriate amount of each food group.

Why is a balanced diet important?

A balanced diet is important to keep us healthy.

Name the seven food groups.

Carbohydrates, lipids (fats), proteins, vitamins, minerals, fibre, and water.

How does the body use carbohydrates?

The body breaks carbohydrates into simple sugars like glucose, which is used for respiration.

Give examples of foods containing carbohydrates.

Bread, pasta, potatoes, rice.

How does the body use lipids (fats)?

Lipids are used for long term energy storage.

Give examples of foods containing lipids.

Oil, cheese, butter, some meats.

How does the body use proteins?

Proteins are needed for growth and repair of tissues.

Give examples of foods containing protein.

Meat, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, nuts.

Why do we need vitamins?

Different vitamins are needed for many different aspects of our health.

Give examples of foods containing vitamins.

Fruit and vegetables.

Why do we need minerals?

Different minerals are needed for many different aspects of our health.

Why do we need fibre?

Fibre is needed to help food move through the intestines.

Give examples of foods containing fibre.

Cereals, fruit and vegetables.

Why do we need water?

Water is needed to keep us hydrated.

What is a deficiency disease?

If we do not eat enough of one of the food groups, we’re at risk of developing a deficiency disease.

What causes anaemia?

Anaemia is caused by a lack of the mineral iron.

What are symptoms of anaemia?

Anaemia causes pale skin, tiredness and shortness of breath.

What food is a good source of iron?

Meat is a good source of iron.

What causes rickets?

Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D.

What are symptoms of rickets?

Rickets causes problems with bone growth, fragile bones and painful bones.

What causes scurvy?

Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C.

What are symptoms of scurvy?

Scurvy can cause tiredness, swelling of gums and loss of teeth.

What causes kwashiorkor?

Kwashiorkor is caused by a lack of protein.

What are symptoms of kwashiorkor?

Kwashiorkor means the body can’t grow and repair its tissues, and can cause stunted growth.

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