What Makes a Healthy Diet?

A balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health and consists of several key components. The 7 components of a balanced diet and their functions include:

1. Carbohydrates: The main source of energy, found in foods like pasta and bread.
2. Proteins: Necessary for growth and repair, primarily obtained from meat.
3. Lipids: Fats and oils that provide energy and insulation, such as butter.
4. Fiber: Provides bulk to keep food moving through the digestive system, found in vegetables.
5. Vitamins: Essential for overall health, abundant in vegetables.
6. Minerals: Important for various bodily functions.
7. Water: Crucial for hydration.

Highlight: An unbalanced diet can lead to health issues such as obesity, which occurs when excessive fat accumulates under the skin and around organs.

Nutrient tests are used to identify specific components in food:

• Starch: Iodine test (blue-black color)
• Glucose: Benedict's test (orange-red color)
• Protein: Biuret test (purple color)
• Fats and lipids: Ethanol test (cloudy emulsion)

Example: Orange juice tests positive for glucose, while milk tests positive for protein.