Summary of Study Session 2

In Study Session 2 you have learned that:

1. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water and fibre are the main groups of nutrients which together, but in variable amounts, make up a balanced diet.
2. Nutrients are grouped into macronutrients and micronutrients. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats and water are macronutrients, and vitamins and minerals are micronutrients.
3. Although most foods are mixtures of nutrients, many of them contain a lot of one nutrient and a little of the other nutrients. Foods are often grouped according to the nutrient that they contain in abundance.
4. Unsaturated fats are healthy fats; saturated fats are unhealthy fats. Therefore people in your community need to eat more of the unsaturated fats and try to reduce their intake of saturated fats.
5. Vitamins are substances present in small amounts in foodstuffs and are necessary for the body to function normally. Vitamins are also called protective foods.
6. Minerals have a number of functions in the body including developing body tissues and supporting metabolic processes. The minerals that are of most importance are calcium, iron, iodine, zinc and fluorine.
7. In order to have a healthy life and good nutritional status, a person needs to eat a balanced diet. You need to know the commonly used food groups in order to advise the people in your community on how to have a balanced diet.