Food is any material consumed to give nutrition to an organisms. Food is either of animal, plant or fungi origin, and carries vital nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, sugars, or even minerals. The human body can survive on a very limited amount of food, depending on our type of occupation and lifestyle. Our daily food intake is normally much more than what is needed. It gets its energy from the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and sometimes, even from our emotions expressed through speech.
According to most medical experts food is a basic necessity and without it, life will not exist. To sustain life, the body requires certain substances to build on and grow, as well as the correct quantity of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. If the nutritional balance is off, the body becomes prone to various kinds of diseases, which could include high blood pressure, weak immune system, chronic fatigue, allergies, weight problems, skin disorders, acne, cancer, constipation and many more.
We all need to eat healthy, nutritious foods in order to live. It is therefore important for us to know the nutritional content of the foods that we consume. The nutrient composition of different foods differs, even if the source is the same. The body cannot live on carbohydrates alone, it needs the rest of the nutrients found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Many people get carbohydrates from foods like bread, pasta, cereals, rice and so on. However, there are also those who get their proteins from red meat, poultry, fish and eggs. Meat and fish contain the protein necessary to grow, while cereals and wheat products lack protein. Whole grain products, on the other hand, contain more protein than any other kind of food. These special kinds of grains are rich in essential nutrients like iron, calcium, zinc and many others. They also contain vitamins A, B, C and E as well as riboflavin, folic acid, magnesium and folate.
When you look at food labels, you will see food classified according to nutrient content. If you look closely, you will see that a food contains more or less nutrients according to its label. While this may seem confusing at first, it is actually helpful because you can immediately see which food type you should choose. For instance, food classified as a fat contains more fats and less nutrients.
You should take your time to choose the best food type for you. Eating the right food will provide you with all the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. This way, you will never be hungry, always have healthy diet and you will have more energy throughout the day. Always remember to check the food and supplement section of your favorite supermarket or health store. That way, you will be able to find the right vitamins and other healthy food to suit your diet.