A Balanced Diet

Carbohydrates - Provide energy

Fats (lipids) - Act as an energy source, provide insulation, make up cell membranes and physically protect organs.

Proteins - Needed for growth, the repair of tissues and to make enzymes

Vitamins - Vitamin D needed for calcium absorption, K for blood clotting etc.

Mineral Salts - Iron is needed to make haemoglobin in the blood, calcium needed for bone formation.

Fibre - Aids movement of food through the gut.

Water - Used in chemical reactions

Malnutrition

• Not having enough food, so you get too little of every nutrient
• Malabsorption - Your body isn't able to absorb the nutrients from digestion into your bloodstream which causes deficiency illness e.g. Coeliac disease. 
• Unbalanced diet e.g. too little of nutrient or too much therefore leading to health problems. 

Obesity

Defined as being 20% or more over the recommended body weight. It can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and even some cancers. 

The main causes are too much sugary or fatty food in the diet and too little exercise. This means more energy is taken in than used up and excess energy is stored…