Why Fats, Oils and Sugar are important for human body?
This group imparts flavour to the items and thereby improves the palatability. Items incorporating them do melt in the mouth; it has been very aptly said 'a minute on the lips, forever on the hips'. The fats and oils are generally the most expensive among the dietary items and therefore intakes are determined by the economic affordability.
A deficit in the intake of fats and oils is rare in the affluent population while an apparent surfeit in this group is often responsible for obesity, heart ailments and certain types of cancers. Hence one needs to use caution in the amounts used. Each of these groups provides some but not all of the nutrients. No single natural food supplies all the essential nutrients and the phytonutrients in proper proportions to maintain health, nor is a food group more important than the other. A meal plan that includes adequate amounts of foods from the different groups provides the foundation for good health which needs to be amply supported by food hygiene, clean drinking water and a clean environment.