Health and Wellness

Fats Fuel for energy is stored in some plants(e.g oil seeds) as oil and in animals as fat. In plants and also in animals, fats are formed from carbohydrates. Fats, therefore, are substances made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They provide the body with heat and energy. They include all fatty materials such as meat, butter and all fats and oils derived from animal or vegetable sources. Fats are highly valuable foods. They supply more heat and energy than any other food substance. They are not easily digested because of their high carbon content. The animal fats for cookery are butter, lard,dripping, fat of meat and oily fish. Vegetable fats are nut oil, vegetable oil, margarine and shea butter. Minerals Minerals are essential for building the body and for the maintenance of health. For this reason, they may be regarded as nutrients. The chief mineral substances in food are sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and iodine. It is required by the fluids in the body. The body loses salt in the urine and also in sweat. The kidneys are able to control the amount of salt passed out in the urine, but there is no means over that salt in sweat. Therefore, extra salt should be taken in food in hot climates and by people whose work is done at high temperatures, and after strenuous exercise, so as to keep the required supply of body fluids .