of "the health benefits" of polyunsaturates. now we know that total fat in the diet makes a tremendous difference and we would never do that again. so, over time, a lot of what we used to do has changed dramatically. however, a few nutritional facts remain constant. our bodies need the nutrients found in foods to function-- to power muscular movements and cell activities, repair tissues, and maintain body temperature. to carry out these metabolic activities, cells need the energy stored in three nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. linda gigliotti: the body prefers to get energycarbydrate, and carbohydrate we may refer to as sugars or starches, but we get carbohydrates from grain products, fruits and vegetables primarily. joanne ikeda: carbohydrates are really a great source of energy for the body, particularly complex carbohydrates because it takes a while for the body to digest them, to absorb them, and then it gives a fairly constant elevation to blood glucose levels. and that's what we want because that's where we'r