Food and Nutrition Macronutrients

Macronutrients are nutrients needed by the body in fairly large amounts.

Needed for growth, maintenance, repair of body cells and energy.

Excess is converted into glucose and stored in the liver.

Made up of amino acids, 22 in total, 10 essential for children, 8 for adults.

LBV = low biological value, not all essential amino acids, vegetable proteins.

HBV = high biological value, all essential amino acids, animal proteins.

Sources: red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, nuts, tofu, tvp, quorn, pulses

Complimentary proteins: eating two LBV foods in order to get all essential aminio acida.

Needed for energy, insulation and protection of internal organs.

Composed of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, glyerol and fatty acids.

Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds, e.g animal fats

Unsaturated have double bonds, healthier, e.g vegetable fats

Contain vitamins A, D, E , K

Provide energy, 50% of total energy intake.

Stored as Glycogen or body fat.

3 Groups - Starch, Sugars, Fibre

Starches: cereals, bread, pulses, rice, pasta, bananas

Intrinsic Sugars (form part of cell structure of plants): frucose (honey), glucose (vegetables), galactose (milk), lactose (milk)

Extrinsic Sugars: sucrose (refined cane sugar/sugar beet, used in golden syrup)

Dietary Fibre: pulses, wholemeal bread, wholegrain cereals, wholewheat pasta, baked potato with skin, dried fruit.