Team:SDU-Denmark/Tour20

What do we need?

The human body needs more than calories. To live a healthy and long life, it is essential to be well nourished, which means to get all the essential nourishment in the right ratio. WHO (World Health Organization) recommends at least 55 % carbohydrates, Source: FAO/WHO Expert Consultation: Carbohydrates in the human nutrition. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper, 1997. Vol. 66: Carbohydrates in the diet. (Link) 20-35 % fats, Source: FAO Expert Consultation: Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper, 2010. Vol. 91: p. 11- 12. (Link) and 10-20 % proteins Source: WHO/FAO/UNU Expert Consultation: Protein and Amino Acid Requirement in Human Nutrition. WHO Technical Report Series, 2007. Vol. 935. (Link) in the adult human daily diet.

Carbohydrates are digested to glucose molecules in the human gut. From here they get into the blood system, and are transported all around the body. Muscles use glucose as an energy source, by degrading it through heat producing processes. Remaining amounts of glucose are stored as glycogen in the liver or as fatty acids in adipose tissue, which allow us to maintain the blood sugar level during starvation.

Proteins are made of amino acids that act as the major building blocks for all enzymes and proteins in the human body. Furthermore proteins are a structural component of bones, muscles, and the immune system. There are 20 commonly amino acids, from which 10 are essential, which means that the human body is unable to synthesize them, and we need to get them through the diet.

Fats are built up by long carbon chains, and function as an energy source. Fats can be stored in the adipose tissue, where it warm isolates the body and protects organs against pressure and stress. Additionally, some fats are of vitally importance, as they are involved in the uptake of fat-soluble essential vitamins. Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012: Nutrition for everyone. (Link)

Too much or too little of one of the three food sources mentioned above can lead to change in weight, weakness, health problems, disease, and undernourishment. Children can even be stunted or wasted. Source: NHC, 2011: Symptoms of malnutrition. (Link)