Scientists have discovered that we need
over 40 nutrients for growth!
There are six classes
of nutrients. They are carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water.
You need different amounts of each nutrient each day due to the role each of them
plays within your growing body. Depending on your body size and activity level
you may need more or less of a certain nutrient than your friends do.
It can be hard to get enough of some nutrients at certain times. For example,
your body needs vitamin D to help you use the calcium that you get from foods.
Your body makes vitamin D when sunlight hits your skin. In the winter months in
North America, you may not get enough sun. So, in the United States, milk is fortified
by adding vitamin D to it.
Sometimes nutrients are lost from
foods. Vitamins and minerals are lost when grains are made into flour. But these
nutrients are so important that they are added back into bread products. This
is known as enrichment.
By eating a wide variety of foods you
can be sure that you are getting the 40 nutrients you need each day. The Food
Guide Pyramid will help you choose from each of the food groups in order to meet
all of your needs. You will learn more about the Food Pyramid in the "Consumer
U" unit.
Now, here is Fernie to tell you about each nutrient
class.
( Click on each class and Fernie will tell about each
of them.)
