Unit 11: the Impact of Diet on Health: Task 1: Know Dietary Needs of Individuals at Different Life Stages

Unit 11: The impact of Diet on Health: Task 1: Know dietary needs of individuals at different life stages

A balanced diet consists of having the right amount of food from each sector of the eat-well plate. We should all aim to consume the following per day:

* unrefined and refined carbohydrates,

* protein foods

* fruit and vegetables

* minerals and vitamins (A,D,C,E,K)

* saturated, unsaturated and monounsaturated fats

* 6- 8 glasses of water per day

Unrefined and refined carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are nutrients that are needed for energy. Energy is stored in the body and is important to have. There are two types of carbohydrates, unrefined and refined. Unrefined carbohydrates contain all the original vitamins and minerals which are essential for the human body. Unrefined foods contain the bran, germ and endospem that remain, whereas with refined foods all the nutrients have been removed. Unrefined carbohydrates are usually natural food sources that have not been changed in any way. Unrefined foods contain natural fibre which is needed to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and a healthy digestive system. It is recommended to have 20 to 45 grams of fibre per day. Not having enough carbohydrates in your diet could lead to malnutrition, whereas having too many could lead to obesity that would also be linked to poor health conditions. Listed below are a few examples of unrefined carbohydrates:

* Brown rice

* Wholegrain bread

* Oatmeal

* Bran cereal

* Vegetables

Refined carbohydrates are needed in our diet to provide you with energy but consuming too much is not good for you as they are unhealthy and. Refined foods are foods that have had their fibre removed. Some refined carbohydrate foods are cakes, biscuits, cookies and doughnuts. If too much refined carbohydrates are consumed then it could lead to diabetes because of the high amount of sugar in them. not only does the foods contain a lot of sugar but also...