7 Essential Classes of food to live better-Asikoherbs
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What is food?
Food is any material that, when consumed by a living creature, is capable of sustaining growth and development. It controls hazardous or toxic chemicals that may enter the body and regulates bodily activities.
Different types of foods
| Â Rice | Â Eggs |
| Â Garri | Â Vegetable |
| Â Semovita | Â Yam |
| Â Bread | Â Beans |
| Â Tea | Â Porridge |
What are the functions of classes of food?
Food is important for a variety of reasons, including:
- Food satisfies hunger.
- It gives you energy for a variety of physical tasks.
- It promotes growth.
- It is illness-resistant.
- Food helps people recover from sickness.
- It is a source of revenue.
- It is eaten in order to get enough nutrients.
- Food contributes to a healthy lifestyle.
Food Group Fundamentals
Food varieties must be classified into categories. There are five distinct groupings.
– Milk and milk producer organizations
– Meat class
– Fruits and vegetables
– group of breads and cereals.
– Tuber class
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Classes of Food |How many classes of food do we have?
Food is classified into seven primary classes:
- Carbohydrates,
- Fats
- Fiber
- Proteins
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Water.
What we eat makes us who we are. That is why it is important to eat properly, and fortunately for us, science can assist us in this. Did you know that the food we eat is divided into classes depending on the nutritional benefits it provides? Food may be defined succinctly as a material consumed by a living form and providing nourishment to such an entity.
Food may have many structures; it can be plant-based or animal-based.
These food classes are classified as either macronutrients (required in relatively high amounts) or micronutrients (needed in smaller quantities).
Carbohydrates, fats, fiber, proteins, and water are the macronutrients. Water, vitamins, and minerals are examples of micronutrients.
The 7 classes of food and their functions
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrate molecules are made of hydrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, and carbon atoms. They are categorized based on the quantity of monomer units they contain. As a result, they are divided into polysaccharides, monosaccharides, and disaccharides. Carbohydrates may be found in rice, noodles, bread, pasta, and other grain-based goods.
Ordinary polysaccharides are more complicated than ordinary saccharides and require much longer time to digest. Only the simplest sugar units of food classes can be absorbed by the blood. Simple carbohydrates are easily absorbed by the blood. Nonetheless, it may cause an unusually high blood sugar level, which may lead to vascular and heart problems.
Fats
A fat molecule is often made up of multiple fatty acids. These fatty acids are made of lengthy chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms. All fats may be divided into unsaturated and saturated types. Saturated fats have all of their carbon atoms linked to hydrogen atoms. Unsaturated fats are those in which carbon is generally linked with a few molecules of hydrogen through double bonds. Fats are utilized to regulate energy, as a source of energy, to regulate temperature, and to aid in vitamin absorption. Fats may be found in a variety of foods, including dairy products, meat, fish, whole eggs, vegetables, nuts, and so on.
Fiber
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that is not completely absorbed by humans. Cellulose is the most common kind of fiber made in the diet. It’s a big carbohydrate that our bodies can’t digest due to a shortage of enzymes. Fiber may be found in fruits (oranges, currants, pears), vegetables (onions, maize, broccoli, garlic, green beans), pulses (beans, lentils), and whole grains (cereals).
Fiber is needed to keep our digestive system healthy and ready to perform its functions. It also aids in processes such as cholesterol and glucose stabilization. A fiber-rich diet may help avoid coronary heart disease, colon cancer, and diabetes.
Proteins
Protein’s importance cannot be overstated. Protein’s importance may be seen in the processes of muscle formation, message transmission, and hair development. This protein includes a great quantity of energy; this energy may be derived from the meat we eat, and this meat provides additional resources for the development of complex neurological systems and a healthy brain. As a result of the energy derived from meat, it is essential that children, pregnant and lactating mothers, and individuals recuperating from injury have high-protein meals.
For these reasons, protein is fundamental for satisfactory well-being. Protein is used in the formation of the body, from the bones to the skin, hair, and muscles; every part of the body needs protein. Protein is also important for the development, maintenance, and health of the body. It is also needed to make hormones, antibodies, and other important parts of the body.
Proteins are made up of many amino acid components. Protein-rich foods include meat, fish, eggs, and beans.
Interestingly, protein accounts for 16% of the body’s weight, so an adequate source of protein should be included in every meal. It will aid in the healthy functioning of the body.
Vitamins:
Vitamins are essential for fighting illness and staying healthy. The body needs certain micronutrients to function properly. There are 13 fundamental vitamins that the body needs to function properly, including vitamins A, C, B6, and D. Vitamins are fundamental for healthy eyes, skin, and bones. Vitamins reduce the risk of lung and prostate cancer and are powerful cancer preventative agents. Vitamins, like vitamin C, help the immune system work better and help the body heal.
It is suggested that you eat a variety of well-balanced foods. If your eating routine contains meals that are high in vegetables and natural goods, you will not need to take nutritional supplements. Vitamins are a group of complicated natural compounds that are found in our food. They help almost every body system, including the immune system, the brain, and more.
These essential nutrients are perplexing regular components found in our classes of food that support practically every function within the body and help the body use glucose, fat, and protein. They are also in charge of managing development, producing red platelets, and protecting the body from dangerous free revolutionaries. As a matter of fact, a small amount of nutrients and minerals are needed for the body to work properly and stay healthy. Nutritional nutrients K and D cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from food.
A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins may provide all of the vitamins a person needs. Those who eat fewer fruits and vegetables, as well as those who have digestive issues, may need to take a vitamin supplement to prevent or decrease a deficit.
Minerals
Minerals are elements that may be found in the soil. They are absorbed by plants, which we eat, or by animals, which we also eat. As a result, minerals may be obtained from both animal and vegetable sources. Minerals have a variety of tasks, including structural responsibilities like calcium in bones and teeth, as well as regulatory roles like sodium and potassium in fluid balance and muscle contractions. Minerals do not degrade in the same manner as vitamins do since they are ‘elemental,’ meaning they are not readily destroyed by heat, light, or air.
Water
You can live for a long period without food, but you can’t go more than a few days without water. Water is absolutely necessary for the proper functioning of every organ in the human body. It is the most important part of the human body, making up about 62% of the total body weight.
FAQs:
What is the process through which water exits the body?
Water is mostly lost from the body via urine, breathing, and perspiration; humans lose around 1.5 liters every day. When fluids are not supplied, dehydration may occur. If we lose even 1-2 percent of our body weight, we will begin to experience dehydration symptoms such as thirst and dry mouth.
3–4 percent have pain that isn’t specific and doesn’t make them want to eat, while 5% have problems focusing, headaches, and tiredness.Dehydration may occur with tingling and numbness in the extremities at 6% and collapse at 7%. A 10% loss of water due to dehydration is life-threatening. As a result, it is important that we stay hydrated all day long.
How much water should we be drinking?
Individual fluid consumption needs vary greatly. This is due to a number of variables that are affected by the quantity of fluid lost, such as ambient temperature, humidity, individual metabolism, activity levels, and the person’s health and diet. A man (70 kg) should drink 2.5 liters of water per day, a woman (58 kg) 2.2 liters per day, a youngster (10 kg) 1 liter, and a toddler (5 kg) 0.75 liters per day. Many of the foods we eat, especially fruits and vegetables, are rich in water content. Most healthy individuals should drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids each day on average.