Diet Tips For Everyone
Food is any material consumed to give nutrition to organisms. The food we eat is divided into two categories: dietary food and for some other uses. Dietary food refers to foods that are required for human consumption; whereas other food is generally used for the growth of other living things. Food is generally of animal, plant or fungi origin, and includes essential nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, or any other minerals that are required by the organisms to carry on with their physiological processes. The primary functions of food are to provide energy to the organisms for their daily activities; to store the existing food supply for future use; and to increase the reproductive capacity of the organisms.
Foods that fall in this broad classification are categorized into three main groups: carbohydrates, protein and lipids. Carbohydrates are grouped into two main categories, namely, starches and non-starchy vegetables; and sugars, starches and non-sugar plant materials. Proteins can be grouped into three categories, namely, non-essential amino acids, fatty acids and carbohydrates. Lipids, which include some fats and proteins, are also grouped into three categories: primary saturated fat, conjugated linoleic acid, and cholesterol. The food products formed from these nutrients constitute the diet of humans and other animals.
It is important to include a variety of healthy foods in the diet to ensure the proper functioning of all the systems of the body. The different food types are separated into those that provide energy and those that provide growth factors. Most carbohydrates are converted into glucose, which is the body’s primary source of energy; and stored energy is used when the requirements of the body are low and the body has to revert to these sources of energy. For a healthy diet, it is important to include certain foods which are rich in carbohydrate content, in the form of carbohydrates, for example, pasta, rice and bread; cereals and pasta; legumes, beans and nuts; fruits, vegetables and legumes; dairy and milk products; potatoes and other roots; whole grains and seeds; and other foods that are rich in dietary fiber.