Macro Nutrients Essay

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Maccronutrients are the nutrients we need in large amounts for us to grow and develop. These essential nutrients include carbohydrates, fibre, fats, protein and water. Carbohydrates offer us easily gained energy. Glucose is what we eventually get from carbohydrates after it is broken down by the enzymes in our saliva. Carbohydrates can be found in fruits, milk, honey, breads, cereals, vegetables and legumes. According to the effect carbohydrates have on blood sugar they are categorised with the Glycaemic Index (GI). The higher the GI the more quickly carbohydrates break down and release glucose. These kinds of food are white bread, watermelon and jasmine rice. Carbohydrates that take longer to be broken down are lower in GI. These foods include mixed grain bread, sweet potato and milk. Protein provides us with amino acids. Amino acids are needed to build and repair cells, fight infections and carry nutrients and oxygen around the body. It is our secondary source of energy however carbohydrates are quicker to digest. Animal sources of protein include meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy products. They provide us with all the essential amino acids and are known as complete proteins. Incomplete proteins are proteins from plant sources like breads, cereals, legumes, nuts and some vegetables. We need fat to provide our bodies with energy, to help protect our bones and organs as well as insulating our body. There are 3 main types of fats. Unsaturated, saturated and Trans fats. Saturated fats are the less healthy fats that tend to increase blood cholesterol levels. Most saturated fats come from animals. Examples of saturated fats are butter, cream and the fat surrounding meat. Unsaturated fats help to decrease blood cholesterol levels. These are the healthy fats for the body. They come from both plants and animals. They can be broken down to monounsaturated
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