How important is food?

... How important is food? Food is vital for life. The food we eat must provide us with nutrients and energy, which we need to keep us healthy. It is controlling the quantity and quality of the food we eat, alongside regular exercise, which will enable us to do this. The body needs over forty different nutrients for good health, from a variety of foods. Nearly half of our intake should come from carbohydrates, along with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Dr Susan Jebb, writing for the BBC, reports that 'people who choose to eat food that is high in fat or calories in just a small portion are more likely to gain weight than those who tend to fill their plates with bulky, low energy foods'. It takes around 3,500 calories to gain half a kilo of weight, and excessive over consumption can lead to significant weight gain and obesity

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