Fats and oils Too much fat is bad, but a little is necessary to keep our tissues in good repair, for the manufacture of hormones and to act as a carrier for some vitamins. Like proteins, fats are made up of smaller units called fatty acids. Two of these fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic acids are termed essential as they must be provided in the diet. They are widely found in plant foods. A high intake of saturated fat can lead to a raised blood cholesterol level.
Vegetable fats tend to be unsaturated and animal fats saturated.
Vitamins Vitamin is the name given to several unrelated nutrients that the body cannot synthesise, either at all or in sufficient quantities. The one thing that they have in common is that only small quantities are needed in the diet. Vitamin A Red, orange or yellow vegetables like carrots and tomatoes, leafy green vegetables and fruits like peaches. It is added to most margarines. Vitamin B12 is the only one which might cause some difficulty as it is not present in plant foods.