Food and Nutrition (The Nutrients)

Food and Nutrition
It is said that prevention is better than cure. To prevent diseases we need to know first about the necessary nutrients for a healthy body. Our awareness can prevent unwanted problems.

Food and nutrition

The term "food" refers to anything which nourishes the body. It obviously include solids, semi-solids and liquid which can be consumed and which help to sustain the body and keep it healthy. Food contains substances which perform important functions in our body. These essential substances contributed by our food are called nutrients. If these nutrients are not present in our food in sufficient amounts, the result is ill health and in some cases, even death. Food also contains many substances which are non-nutrients such as colour, flavour, smell etc.

There are over forty essential nutrients which are supplied by the food we eat. These nutrients can be classified into five major categories : Proteins, Carbohydrates, Fats, Vitamins, and minerals. Each one of them has a specific role to play in our body. These functions are 1. Energy-giving, 2. Body-building, 3. Protective and regulatory functions.

1. ENERGY-GIVING FUNCTION : Energy-giving function is performed by carbohydrates and fats. This is why these nutrients are called "body fuels". Carbohydrates and fats are burnt in the body and the energy, they contain, is released to perform various activities like sitting, standing, walking, running, performing our tasks and the motor activities inside our body like beating of heart, expansion and contraction of the lungs, contraction of the intestine etc.

2. BODY-BUILDING FUNCTION: When the growth of our body begins, new cells are added to the existing ones. The existing ones also increase in size. On the other hand, cells do get worn out and die. The cells have to be replaced. This process is called repair. For both growth and repair, proteins are necessary. So the body building function is performed by proteins.

3. PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY FUNCTION : The term "protective" refers to the role in preventing infection by ensuring proper functioning of the body systems responsible for fighting against infections. The "regulatory" function refers to the role of food in controlling body processes such as the beating of the heart, maintenance of body temperature and contraction of muscles. Vitamins, minerals and proteins contribute substantially to both protective and regulatory functions. So does water.

The body needs each nutrient in specific amounts. Some are needed in relatively larger amount, they are called macronutrients, and some in smaller amount, they are called micronutrients. But they are all equally essential for our health.
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Food and Nutrition