Nutrition and Nutrients

What are nutrients?

​Nutrients are substances found in food that carry out certain jobs in the body.

We need different nutrients to keep us healthy. We get nutrients from foods and drinks. The different types of nutrients are:

• carbohydrate

• fibre

• protein

• fat

• vitamins

• minerals

​What do nutrients do?

Nutrients play an important role in keeping our bodies healthy.

The food we eat contain different nutrients and they have specific roles to play in how health our body is.

So, let us look at the role played by each nutrient.

Carbohydrate is found in foods like potatoes, bread, rice and pasta. Carbohydrate provides energy.

​Carbohydrate

Fibre is found in foods like wholegrain breakfast cereal, wholemeal bread, brown rice, vegetables, fruit, beans and lentils. Fibre helps to keep the digestive system healthy.

​Fibre

Protein is found in foods like beans, lentils, chickpeas, fish, eggs and meat. Protein can also come from milk, cheese and yoghurt. Protein is needed for the growth and repair of muscles.

​Protein

There are lots of different vitamins, such as vitamin A, C, D and E. Different vitamins do different jobs in the body. Vitamin C is found in fruit and vegetables, such as oranges, strawberries, red peppers and broccoli. Vitamin C helps wounds to heal.

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​Vitamins

​Fat

We only need a small amount of fat to keep us healthy. There are two main types of fat: unsaturated and saturated fat. Unsaturated fat is healthier for us and it is mostly found in lower fat spreads and oils from plants, such as sunflower oil or olive oil. Saturated fat is found in foods like butter and lard. Fat helps the body to absorb some vitamins

There are lots of different minerals, such as calcium, iron and zinc. Different minerals do different jobs in the body. Calcium can be found in foods like milk, cheese and yoghurt. Calcium can also be found in dairy alternatives, such as soya drinks if they have calcium added. Calcium helps to build strong bones and teeth.

​Minerals