NUTRIENTS

Nutrients are substances derived from food during the process of digestion.There are three main groups of nutrients contained in food which are needed by the body in differing amounts. They are carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. These major nutrients are needed by the body for growth, repair, maintenance and energy.

In addition, the body requires fibre, vitamins and minerals which are present in varying quantities in different types of food. Good nutrition requires a balance of the right nutrients, that is, getting the proper amount, or proportion, of each one. Our diet should provide adequate amount of all nutrients to maintain good health and physical efficiency.

Daily food intake should be such that of the total consumption, about 15 to 20% is protein, 40 to 50% is complex Carbohydrates and 20 to 30% is fat. Fats are a group of organic compounds that occur naturally in plant and animal cells in the form of lipids, consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. They are an important energy store, having twice the calorific value than carbohydrates. They are broken down into its constituents parts by enzymes called lipases.

Fats play a vital role in the human body and perform many functions. They are necessary for the absorption and utilization of certain vitamins like A, E, D and K. Fat deposit help to maintain body temperature against outside environmental influences and protects body organs such as the heart and the liver. Fats contain Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) which are essential for maintaining tissues in normal health.