Basic Science JSS 1 Week 4
Topic: Family Health / Nutrition
What is nutrition?
Nutrition is the process by which organisms take in and make use of substances that are necessary for good health such as food and minerals.
In order to achieve and maintain good health, one must have good feeding (Nutritional) habit.
What is food?
Food is a nutritive material which, when taken, provides the body with energy, regulates body functions, repairs body tissues, promotes growth and helps in the regulation of body processes.
Types of Food
There are various types of food items. Examples include cassava, meat, fish, etc.
Examples of food items and their sources are:
| Food Item | Sources of Food |
| Cassava | Plant |
| Meat | Animals (Cow) |
| Fish | Animal (Fish) |
| Yam | Plant |
| Cocoyam | Plant |
| Groundnuts | Plant (Legume) |
| Chicken | Animal (Bird) |
Classes of Food Based on their Nutrients
Nutrients are substances found within foods which nourish the body.
There are six types of food nutrients. These are: carbohydrates, fats and oil, proteins, vitamins, mineral salts and water. The classes of food based on their nutrients are:
| Classes of food | Uses | Examples |
| Carbohydrate | Supplies energy to the body | Yam, maize, bread, sugar, etc. |
| Protein | For body building(growth) and repair of worn out tissues | Eggs, meat, fish, milk, beans, etc. |
| Fats & Oil | Supply energy to the body | Groundnuts, milk, palm oil, etc. |
| Vitamins | Protect the body against diseases | Fruits, milk, vegetables, etc. |
| Mineral Salts | For body metabolism, bone and teeth formation | Table salt, bones, water, etc. |
| Water | For chemical reactions to take place, temperature regulation, etc. | Water |
What is Adequate Diet?
An adequate diet is that diet which contains all the food nutrients in their proper proportion.
For good health and growth of the body, the correct combination of these food nutrients in our meal is very important.
