In general terms, food is a substance used for the correct nutrition of a living being, in addition, it has a social and psychological impact on humanity. It is nutritional because it can provide energy and matter in the anabolism of living beings, managing to maintain all physiological functions, a clear example of this is body heat (or anatomical heating of living beings).
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Now we all have a clear idea of ‘what is food’: the edible items that help us to live a healthy life are considered as food. Every day, we do various physical and mental activities. As a result, our bodies become weak and dilapidated. In that case, food rejuvenates our bodies. It means food works inside the body. So let us see what is the importance of food.
The Importance of Food..
Food is more than a necessity. The first of the terms encompass the mechanical actions related to the ingestion of food, while the second refers to the absorption of substances contained in food to transform them into energy and tissues for the proper functioning of our body.
In other words, the importance of diet for health has more to do with what happens after the incorporation of food into our body than with the process of eating itself.
Nutrients are not evenly distributed in all foods. That is why there are some that we should eat in greater proportion than others. From there the famous food pyramid was born, which includes all types of food in its proper measure to avoid the appearance of pathologies.
Classification and Types of Food..2
Although food is capable of providing us with both nutrients and non-nutrients, only one of them cannot provide all those essential or fundamental nutrients for the correct functioning of the organism of living beings.
Therefore, it is essential to use a totally balanced, rich diet in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. In order for this to be accomplished, it was necessary to create a classification of foods, thus, not only their composition is known, but also what each one of them contributes.
Types of food: According to Its Origin..3
1. Organic
Organic foods are those that do not involve chemical substances such as pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers in their production process.
These foods are grown, raised, and processed, using natural methods, in order to obtain food products that do not include any chemical compound or synthetic additives.
For the cultivation of this type of food, fertilization systems are used, through the use of compost that returns the nutrients that are wasted to the soil.
To combat pests in crops, natural products are used that neutralize and attack organisms that can damage crops and livestock. Plant-based foods are organic and, in turn, contain nutrients. Foods with vegetable protein are nuts and seeds. In this category, there are also foods with carbohydrates and foods with iron, for example, vegetables.
It is important to note that some people may experience an allergy to organic food, but it is not a large percentage.
Importantly, animal foods are also organic, for example, beef, fish, cheese, eggs, and milk.
Types of food: According to Their Nutrients
There is no single possible classification according to their nutrients, although the following is widely accepted:
- Fruits and vegetables: They are the main source of vitamins and minerals in the diet of many people. Specifically, citrus fruits contain large amounts of vitamin C, while green leafy vegetables stand out for their richness in vitamin A.
- Cereals, bread, pasta, and other derivatives: This category includes all foods derived from cereals such as wheat, corn, oats, or rice, as well as bread, pasta, or couscous, among others. Foods of this type provide a lot of carbohydrates.
- Pulses: Among the legumes, we find lentils, chickpeas, or beans In addition to carbohydrates, they have a significant proportion of protein, and iron is higher.
- Tubers: The most popular is the potato and the sweet potato, known respectively as “potato” and “sweet potato” in Latin America. This type of food is rich in starch, vitamins, and minerals.
- Nuts: Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, or chestnuts, among others, are foods of this type. They provide a high amount of calories and carbohydrates.
- Meat, fish, and eggs: Foods of this type contain a very high proportion of protein and iron, as well as a variable amount of fat. Bluefish such as salmon and tuna, which are rich in omega–3 fatty acids.
- Milk and dairy products: They provide calcium, animal proteins, phosphorus, fatty acids, and carbohydrates.
- Oil, fat, and butter: Butter and vegetable oils, among others, are very caloric foods and therefore provide a large amount of energy.
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