By Dr A S Stella Shalini The meaning

By Dr. A. S. Stella Shalini

The meaning of food • Food supplies the body with energy producing materials. • Also it provides substances for the building and maintenance of the body. • Food regulates the body processes.

The Food Guide Pyramid The Key to a Balanced Diet!

Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta • How many daily servings should we eat?

Vegetables • How many daily servings should we eat?

Fruits • How many daily servings should we eat?

Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese • How many daily servings should we eat?

Meat, Poultry, and Fish • How many daily servings should we eat?

Fats, Oils, and Sweets • How many daily servings should we eat?

Answers to Daily Serving “? s” • • • Bread and Cereal = 6 -11 servings Vegetables = 3 -5 servings Fruits = 2 -4 servings Milk, Yogurt, Cheese = 2 -3 Servings Meat, Fish, Poultry = 2 -3 Servings Fats, Oils, & Sweets = use sparingly

What is Health? World health organization (WHO) defines health as “ a state of complete physical, mental and social well being. ” It is not merely the absence of disease or physical deformity.

Nutrients • Nutrients are the basic constituents of food that must be supplied to the body in appropriate amounts. • There are six different nutrients: Carbohydrates and lipids, vitamins, mineral sand water.

Nutrition: The procurement of nutrients is called nutrition.

NUTRIENTS The chemical substances that are required for the production of energy for growth and body building are called nutrients. Examples: The nutrients we require are carbohydrates , proteins, lip ids, vitamins and minerals.

MACRONUTRIENTS Some of them are required in large quantities and are therefore called macronutrients. For example carbohydrates and some minerals like sodium are required in large amounts.

MICRONUTRIENTS Some of the nutrients are required in small amounts often in micrograms thesearecalled. Micronutrients. Examples: Vitamins and minerals like iron, molybdenum.

Carbohydrates : carbohydrates are a group of compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They are also called as sugars. Glucose formed from the hydrolysis of the complex carbohydrates is used by the body for the production of energy. The importance of carbohydrates in the diet need be stressed as you might have already understood that they give energy and in their absence we get tired, weak and may even faint. You might have seen sports persons taking glucose. This is immediately absorbed and used by the body.

Proteins: Proteins are made up of Carbon and Nitrogen. The proteins we eat in our diet are not absorbed as such. They are broken down to amino acids by the protein digesting enzymes in the digestive system. Amino acids are then absorbed from the intestine. The are 24 different amino acids in nature and of these only 2 0 amino acids are present in most of the proteins. Based on our requirement , amino acids have been divided two groups a) The first group of amino acids are called ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS. ” b)The second group is known as NONESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS.

Milk, meat, eggs, cheese, fish are the rich sources for proteins of animal origin. Legumes, cereals, bean and nuts are good sources of plant proteins. Amino acids derived from the dietary proteins are used once again for synthesising proteins required for the body. In extreme conditions, proteins may also be used for the production of energy. Potato Cabbage Beetroot Tomato

Fats fats are made up of fatty acids and glycerol. Fats are present in both in animal and plant foods. Ghee, butter, milk, cheese, eggs and fat present in meat ere the fats of animal origin. fats from plant sources are usually used in the from of oils – oils from groundnut, mustard, sesame, coconut, palm are examples for fats of plant origin. Fats are chiefly used in the body to generate energy.

Minerals: Salt

CALCIUM: Calcium is the major element required for the body. It forms about 1. 5 to 2% of the body weight in an adult human being. Most of the calcium is present in bones. it is required for the formation of bones, teeth coagulation of blood, production of milk in the lactating females and for muscle contraction. it is available in milk, milk products , green leafy vegetables etc. . We required about 400500 milligrams of calcium per day

Classification of food • Food is classified based on the physiological functions. • The foodstuff that contains larger proportion of nutrients like carbohydrates and lipids are called Energy yielding food.

Classification of food • The food that contains greater proportions of proteins, minerals and water is called Body building food. • The food that has higher amounts of proteins, minerals, vitamins and some fat is called Body regulating food.

Table 1. Food, nutrients and their functions Nutrients Carbohydrates, lipids Functions Energy yielding Food Cereals, roots , tubers , dried fruits sugars , fats , etc. , Proteins , Minerals, Water Body Building Milk , meat, fish , egg, pulses , oil seeds, nuts, fish , liver oil, etc. , Proteins, Minerals, Water , Vitamins Regulating Milk, egg, green leaves, fruits etc. ,