Building Block : Fiber
Fiber is the part of the plant that your body does not absorb ; therefore , it contains no calories . Its role is to clean out the intestines so that toxins and left-over food particles do not stay too long in the intestine , where they can cause damage . Grains , nuts , fruits , and vegetables are good sources of fiber .
Building Block : Water
In addition to food , everyone needs water every day . Your body does not store water , it needs to be replaced every day . Your body uses water to :
• carry nutrients to your brain , muscles , bones , organs
• regulate your body ’ s temperature , for example , sweating cools you off
• cushion and lubricates your brain , organs , bones and joints
• aids in the digestion of food
• keeps skin clear and healthy
• removes waste products from the body
• helps remove fat from the body
• carries food and oxygen to all parts of the body
Thirst is usually a good guide for water intake except during certain times : when you are ill or exercising heavily you might not feel thirsty , but you still need to drink plenty of water .
What About Calories
A calorie is a unit of energy . When you hear something contains 100 calories , it is a way of describing how much energy your body could get from eating or drinking it .
Calories aren ’ t bad for you . Your body needs calories for energy . But eating too many calories — and not burning enough of them off through activity — can lead to weight gain .
Most foods and drinks contain calories . Some foods , such as lettuce , contain few calories ( 10 calories / cup ). Other foods , like peanuts , contain a lot of calories ( 427 calories / ½ cup ). One three-ounce serving of lean beef is about the size of a deck of cards and contains 175 calories . You can find out how many calories are in a food by looking at the nutrition facts label .
Of the six nutrition building blocks , proteins , carbohydrates , and fats contain energy in the form of calories . Here ’ s how many calories are in one gram of each :
• 1 gram of protein = 4 calories
• 1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories
• 1 gram of fat = 9 calories
Now , using the numbers above , calculate how many calories from protein , carbohydrates , and fat are in one 3-ounce serving of lean beef .
One 3-ounce serving of lean beef contains : 22 grams of protein = ____________ calories 0 grams of carbohydrates = ____________ calories 10 grams of fat = ____________ calories
6 - Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom