Healthy diet - Nutrition, digestion and excretion - KS3 Biology - BBC Bitesize (2024)

FAQs

What makes a healthy diet KS3? ›

A balanced diet contains the correct amount of all food groups. The food groups are: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and water. Each food group has its own role to play within a healthy diet.

Good health is not just the absence of disease or illness, it is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. This means eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, avoiding tobacco and drugs and getting plenty of rest.

The 7 Components of a Balanced Diet and Their Functions

The 7 components of a balanced diet are Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins, Minerals, Fibre and Water. These are the nutrients that make a balanced diet.

All food contains energy. Fruit and vegetables contain vitamins to keep the body working and help the immune system and fibre which helps digestion. Proteins build healthy muscles and allow the body to grow and repair. Fats and oils act as an energy store.

A balanced diet contains all of the essential elements that the human body needs. Carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fiber, and water are all essential components in a well-balanced diet. A nutritious, well-balanced diet lowers the risk of disease and enhances general health.

The word 'diet' refers to everything you eat. A healthy diet means that you are eating all the right things. An unhealthy diet means that you are eating too much of the wrong type of food. Some foods are better for you than others.

There is strong evidence that eating plenty of fibre (commonly referred to as roughage) is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer. Choosing foods with fibre also makes us feel fuller, while a diet rich in fibre can help digestion and prevent constipation.

What should be avoided in a balanced diet? ›

According to the packet, the UK jelly baby is approximately 75% sugar by mass, with each sweet delivering approximately 100 kilojoules of energy.

milk (optional) Eggs are an excellent source of protein, there is no recommended limit on how many eggs you should eat a week, but variety is important to a balanced diet, so try poached, boiled, omelette to make sure you mix up your meals.

Coconut oil is 92% saturated fat and therefore raises cholesterol levels similar to animal fats (butter, lard). However, it contains a unique type of medium chain saturated fat called lauric acid that research shows raises HDL or "good" cholesterol levels, which may lower overall heart disease risk.

Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. Includes a variety of protein foods such as seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), soy products, nuts, and seeds. Is low in added sugars, sodium, saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol.

Eating a balanced diet every day should give you all the nutrients you need to maintain good health. You need to include fruit, vegetables, starchy foods, dairy and limit your intake of foods and drinks high in fat, salt or sugar.

Healthy eating in childhood reduces your child's chance of developing health problems as they get older. A healthy, balanced diet includes foods from all 5 food groups: fruit, vegetables, grains, proteins and dairy. Foods high in sugar, saturated fat and salt aren't necessary for a healthy diet and should be limited.