Fibre should be included in the diet for the following reasons:

• Fibre makes food bulky or bigger — this can help a person who is overweight to eat less food
• Fibre makes the faeces soft and bulky; this can help prevent constipation
• Fibre slows the absorption of nutrients, so it helps nutrients to enter the blood stream slowly. This is important for patients with diabetes mellitus.

In this section you have learned about the macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water and fibre, and how they nourish the body. You are now going to learn more about vitamins and minerals, the important micronutrients.