Food and Nutrition for Health — Class 10 Health and Physical Education

This chapter explains the role of food and nutrition in maintaining health and supporting physical activity. It describes the major nutrients — carbohydrates and fats for energy, proteins for growth and repair, vitamins and minerals for protection and regulation, and water and roughage for proper functioning — and their food sources and functions. A balanced diet is one that contains all nutrients in the right proportions to meet the body’s needs, which vary with age, sex, body size and the level of activity, so a sportsperson needs more energy and protein than a sedentary person. The chapter discusses the consequences of poor nutrition, including deficiency diseases from a lack of nutrients and obesity from overeating, and stresses healthy eating habits, hygiene and the dangers of junk food. It also notes special dietary needs before, during and after sports activity, underlining that good nutrition is essential for growth, fitness and high performance.