What do Different Food Items Contain?

INTRODUCTION

What do different Food Items contain?

• All living organisms such as plants and animals require food. So, food is essential for all living organisms.
• The food that we eat consists of different components or nutrients.
• NUTRIENTS are required for proper growth and healthy body function.
• The process by which we obtain food and utilize it for growth and development is called nutrition.

• Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals are essential components of food, these components are called nutrients.
• In addition, food also contains dietary fibers and waters

Nutrients: A nutrient can be defined as components that are needed by our body to grow, survive and carry on different daily activities.

Different Type of Food

Energy-giving food

Carbohydrates and Fats. Carbohydrates provide us instant energy. Fats are stored energy resources

Body-building food

Proteins are body-building food as they help in body growth and repair of damaged parts of the body.

Protective food

Vitamins and minerals are protective food as they protect us from many diseases. They give us resistance against disease causing germ

• Our food contains mainly five major kinds of nutrients namely vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Additionally, food also contains water and dietary fibers/roughage and water which are also required by our bodies.

Fig. 1: Major nutrients of food