2.3.11

Human Diet

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Diet

Food provides chemical energy for respiration and substances needed for cell growth and repair. A ‘balanced diet’ is one where all the nutritional requirements of the body are met, and includes the following food groups:

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Carbohydrates

  • Carbohydrates are a source of energy.
  • They are found in food like bread, potatoes and pasta.
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Fats

  • Fats are important for insulation, for making cell membranes and also as a store of energy in the body.
  • They are found in butter, vegetable oils and oily fish.
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Protein

  • Proteins are important for building and repairing tissues like muscles and skin.
  • They are found in foods like meat, eggs and beans.
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Fibre

  • Keeps food moving through the digestive system.
  • Found in wholegrain bread pasta and rice, oats and beans.
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Water

  • Water is necessary for chemical reactions to take place in cells, for waste removal from the body, and for temperature regulation.

Jump to other topics

1The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3Organism Functions

3.1Respiration

3.2Gas Exchange

3.3Transport

3.4Excretion

3.5Coordination & Response

4Reproduction & Inheritance

5Ecology

6Biological Resources

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