What are Nutrients?

Nutrients are substances obtained from foods
They provide nourishment and assist the body in it’s growth and development.

The Nutrients are: Proteins, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, vitamins and water.

Functions of the nutrients:

Proteins -

• Builds and repairs body tissues
• Builds antibodies to fight infections
• Supplies energy

Carbohydrates - Supplies energy, helps the body to use fats, provides fibre.

Fat - Supplies energy, helps body to absorb fat soluble vitamins.

Minerals - Helps build teeth and bones, promotes healthy nerves, transports oxygen to the body, helps prevent anaemia.

Vitamins - Assist  iron absorption, helps fight infections, promotes normal growth and development, maintains healthy teeth gums and blood vessels.

Water - The only nutrient that everybody needs everyday

• Helpful in maintaining hydration
• Transports nutrients and waste products
• Aids in the regulation of body temperature
• Maintains blood volume

We get these nutrients when we eat from the food groups. The Caribbean uses six food groups to help people across the region to make healthier food choices, most regions or countries have their own food groups designed based on culture, religion, and food availability. See the Six Caribbean Food Groups below courtesy of the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI).

The 6 caribbean food groups from Cherusher