ABSTRACT
Despite a national obsession with eating low-fat foods, fat is an essential part of the diet, especially for growing children. It provides energy, insulation to keep the body warm, padding to sit on and is an essential part of many cells in the body, allowing them to function. Some vitamins can only be taken into the body when combined with fat, so it is needed to absorb vitamins A, D, E, K. Simple sugars occur naturally in food, for example in fruit, some vegetables, cereal grains and milk, and can also be added to food, when they are termed extrinsic or added sugars. Complex carbohydrates provide a healthy way to fill up without consuming excessive energy, whilst bringing along other essential nutrients too, such as fibre, minerals and vitamins. The body is unable to digest dietary fibre so, instead of providing energy, it helps the gut to work by increasing bulk in the bowel and by stimulating the gut walls.
