Our body is like a machine in many respects and like most machines, it needs fuel. The body gets its fuel from what we eat, drink, and breathe, and how well it functions depents to a large extent all these things. To be strong and healthy we need a balanced diet. We need carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, together with small a mounts of vitamins and some minerals - all this and water as well. Water, whether on its own or in other foodstuffs, is vitally important because about 70 percent of our body is made up of this liquid. A healthy adult needs 2,5 litres of water every twenty four hours, most of it coming from food which contains water and the most being made up by drinking.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates - compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen give the body energy and provide power to operate muscles. Carbohydrates make up the biggest part of our diet and most of these consist of either starch or sugar. Food such as rice, potato, bread, and biscuits are rich in carbohydrates. Once the carbohydrates are in our bodies, they change into glucose which is absorbed quickly into blood stream and provides us energy.
Fats
Fats are needed the human body for warmth and energy. This is why eskimoes have a fatty diet. Most of the fats which we eat from meat, eggs, milk, butter, fish, and vegetable oils. If you eat too much fatty food and take little exercise to burn it up, your body stores the surplus fat in its tissues, called adipose tissues and you become overweight. In times of need the stored fat can be used to provide energy.
Proteins
Proteins are needed for our bodily health and growth. All our foods - carbohydrates, fats, and proteins - contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but it only the proteins which contain nitrogen as well. The body needs proteins to make new cells. Most of our proteins come from meat, fish, cheese, eggs, milk, and beans.
Minerals
The body needs twenty different kinds of minerals in smaller quantities. Minerals like calcium and phophorus, obtained from milk and fish, promote bone growth. Iron helps to produce red blood cells and is found in spinach. Sodium and potassium maintain the balance of body's fluids. Other minerals like magnesium, iodine, copper, and manganese keep the body working normally.
Vitamins
Vitamins, tiny chemical compounds found in most foods, also perform important functions. From vita, latin for life, vitamins are known by letters of the alphabets. Skin, teeth, and bones need vitamin A ; the skin, eyes, and the nervous system need vitamin B ; vitamin C and D are vital for health of bones, joints, and gums ; vitamin E aids the reproduction of new living organs ; and vitamin K helps blood to clot.
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