Food - What is it ?

Food- It is a substance that we eat. It consists of essential nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fats and minerals that are needed by our body to nourish it.

  Importances of food

1. It provides essential nutrients to our body.

2.It provides energy to our body for performing activities.

3.It helps in the growth of our body.

Food variety - There is so much variety of food that we eat in our daily life. It means eating different food at every meal, every day all the time. It differs from region to region.

   Importances of food variety

1. Eating a variety of food makes sure that we do not get bored with eating.

2.It ensures that we get all the nutrients that we need because no single food contains all the nutrients.

3.It prevents us from getting an excess of one nutrient.

Ingredients-  Food that we eat after cooking is made up of many materials which are known as ingredients. For ex.  dal is made up of pulses,water,oil and spices.

Sources of food - There are two main sources of food i.e plants and animals.

Food from plants- It is the source of grains, pulses,cereals,green vegetables and fruits.

Food from animals - It is the source of meat, eggs, milk and milk products.

Components of the food

Foods have two types of components.

1.Energy components-  The components that give energy (calories) to cells for it's proper functioning are called energy components.These are 

1.Carbohydrates - These are called energy giving food because it gives energy to our body. People do who more physical work needs more carbohydrates for getting energy.

Source of carbohydrates- breads,fruits,grains, potatoes etc.

2.Fats- These are called lipids. When carbohydrates are taken in excess then it stored as fats in our body. These play role in transport of certain vitamins.

Sources of fats- cheese,butter,oil,ghee,nuts,etc.

3.Proteins - These are called body building foods. It helps in the growth of the body and helps in building or repairing the damaged body tissues.

Sources of proteins  - meat,egg,beans,pulses, etc.

2.Non- energy components- Components that are also essential but do not give energy to our body are called non energy components.These are

1. Vitamins- These required in low amount. These are known as protector of body because these protect the body from diseases. These keep our eyes,bones,teeth and gums healthy.

These are of many kinds having different functions.

1.vit.A - keeps skin and eyes healthy

2.vit.C - fight against diseases

3.vit.D - helps to use calcium for

              bones

4.vit.E - protect cells from damaging

5.vit.K - helps in blood clotting

Group of vitamins is called vitamin B- complex.

2.Minerals - These are required in low amount but essential for good health and proper growth of the body. These are obtained from variety of foods.

3.Dietary fibres - These are known as roughage. These are obtained from plant products. It doesn't provide any nutrient to our body but these are important because it helps to get rid of undigested food from body and control cholesterol level in the blood.

Sources of dietary fibres-  fruits, vegetables, etc.

4.Water - It is transparent, tasteless, and colourless chemical substance. It is the main fluid for all living organisms.It doesn't provide any calorie or nutrient . It absorbs nutrients from food and transfer to blood. It throws out waste from body as urine and sweat.

Thanks for reading friends

By 

Payal Gupta