Components of Food: science class six


Balance Diet

The food normally we take in a day is called our diet. All the nutrients are required for proper growth and to maintain good health.

Our diet should have all nutrients in proper ratio and in right quantity that our body needs. Not too much of one food and not too little of the other food. The diet should also contain a good amount of roughage and water. Such diet is called balance diet.

Definition of Balance Diet

(a) A diet which contains all the nutrients along with roughage and water in proper ratio and in right quantity is called a balance diet.

(b) A balance diet is that which contains all the basic components of food in adequate amount.

Food Pyramid

The Food Pyramid is a concept of taking of food depicted on paper in the form of a pyramid.

food pyramid

Food pyramid gives an idea about the about the quantity of type of food which one should eat in a day.

Food Pyramid is divided into four horizontal parts,

Carbohydrates rich food is kept at the base of pyramid which shows that we should eat more carbohydrate rich foods. Vegetables should be next in number, followed by animal products. Fats, Oils, Sugars and salt come at the tip of the food pyramid. Thus, we should eat fats, oils and sugars and salt in very small amount.

A balance diet contains carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in proper ratios.

We should eat proper amount of green vegetables and fruits with every meal. These foods provide vitamins, minerals and fibres.

We should not eat Junk foods like chips, burgers, pizza and instant noodles etc. because junk foods are not good for health.

Deficiency Diseases

Diseases due to lack of intake of all required nutrients in right amount for long time is called the Deficiency Disease and the condition is generally said Malnutrition.

Insufficient food does not allow the functioning of body properly and leads to disease. Persons suffering from malnutrition are thin and weak. They get tired easily and fall ill very often. This happens because lack of nutrients body will not found able to fight with infections and leads to a disease.

Deficiency of different types of nutrients leads to different types of diseases.

Deficiency of Vitamin A

A person due to the deficiency of vitamin A suffers from Night blindness and irregular growth of teeth. In the condition of night blindness one cannot able to see in dim light.

Milk, butter, eggs, carrots, cod liver oil and green leafy vegetables are good source of vitamin A.

Dificiency of Vitamin B1

Deficiency of vitamin B1 leads to a disease called beri – beri. A child suffering from beri – beri becomes very weak.

Milk, meat, green vegetables cereals are good source of vitamin B1.

Deficiecny of Vitamin B2

Due to deficiency of vitamin B2 a person suffer from skin disease and retarded growth.

Eggs, meat and green peas etc are vitamin B2 rich food.

Deficiency of Vitamin B3

Deficiency of vitamin B3 leads to a disease called Pellagra due to which skin, digestive system and nervous systems are affected.

Tomato, potato, meat, fish, whole grains are the good source of vitamin B3.

Deficiency of Vitamin B12

Deficiency of vitamin B12 leads to a disease called Anemia. In Anemia a person have the deficiency of red blood cells.

Egg, milk, fish etc are good source of vtamin B12. All leafy vegetables and grains are good sources of vitamin B12

Deficiency of vitamin C

Deficiency of vitamin C leads to a disease called scurvy. A person suffering from scurvy develops spots on gums and tongue, which often bleed.

Sour fruits, like lemon and orange are rich in vitamin C.

Deficiency of vitamin D

Deficiency of vitamin D leads to a disease called osteomalacia. In this disease bones become deformed. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium. Vitamin D makes bones stronger.

Rickets is a disease found generally in children in which the bones become soft and out of shape. Rickets is a diseases which leads mainly because of vitamin D.

Deficiency of Calcium

Deficiency of Calcium leads to poor growth in children. In some children bones may get deformed and the disease is known as osteomalacia.

Deficiency of iron

Deficiency of iron leads to less blood in body. This condition is known as anaemia.

Deficiency of iodine

Deficiency of iodine leads a disease called goiter. A person suffering from goiter gets big swelling near throat. Deficiency of iodine also leads to poor mental development.

Deficiency of phosphorus

Deficiency of phosphorus is the cause of weakness, bad teeth and bad bones.

Deficiency of potassium

Deficiency of potassium leads to muscle weakness.

Deficiency of sodium

Deficiency of sodium leads to muscle cramps and tiredness. This may be happened deu to dehydration.

Deficiency of fluorine leads to dental caries.

Summary

(a) Food gives us energy.

(b) Without food one cannot survive.

(c) Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins and Minerals are the component of food. These components of food are called nutrients.

(d) Carbohydrates give us energy. Carbohydrates rich foods are called energy giving food.

(e) Proteins make, repair and replace new cell which is necessary for growth. Protein is called body building food.

(f) Vitamins are essential for the healthy functioning of the body.

(g) Fats also give us energy.

(h) Minerals are essential for the proper growth and functioning of the body.

(i) 70% of our body weight comprises of water. Water is essential for life. We cannot survive without water.

(j) Fibers present in food is called Roughage. Roughage is not digested in our body and gives no nutrients. Inspite of that this roughage is as important as other nutrients for our body. This ensures the smooth movement of waste through rectum and prevents constipation.

(k) Malnutrition is taking insufficient food. If a people do not get proper nutrition in proper ratio many of nutrients which are required get deficient and people get sick, which is called deficiency disease.

(l) Diet which contains all the nutrients in right amount is called A Balance Diet.

NCERT Exercise Questions and Answer

Question (1) Name the major nutrients in our food.

Answer

Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins and Minerals are major nutrients in our food. These nutrients are called the component of food.

Question (2) Name the following

(a) The nutrients which mainly give energy to our body.

Answer: Carbohydrates

(b) The nutrients that are needed for the growth and maintenance of our body.

Answer: Proteins

(c) A vitamin required for maintaining good eyesight.

Answer: Vitamin A

(d) A mineral that is required for keeping our bones healthy.

Answer: Calcium

Question (3) Name two foods each rich in

(a) Fats

Answer: Oil and Eggs.

(b) Starch

Answer: Rice and Potato

(c) Dietary fibre

Answer: Spinach and fresh fruits

(d) Protein

Answer: Pulses and eggs

Question (4) Tick the statement that are correct

(a) By eating rice alone, we can fulfill nutritional requirement of our body. ()

Answer: No.

Explanation

Rice is rich in carbohydrates and deficient in proteins, fats and other nutrients. Thus only rice alone cannot fulfill nutritional requirement of our body.

(b) Deficiency diseases can be prevented by eating a balanced diet. ()

Answer: Yes

Explanation

A balanced diet is a diet which contains all the nutrients in adequate amount and proper ratio along with roughages and water.

Thus, by eating a balanced diet a person gets all required nutrients in proper amount and hence no nutrients left deficient. This prevents any deficiency disease.

(c) Balanced diet for the body should contain a variety of food items.

Answer: Yes

Explanation:

No single food item contains all the nutrients required for our body for proper functioning and to maintain good health.

Thus, we should take a balanced diet. A balanced diet comprises of many food items according to nutrients required for our body.

(d) Meat alone is sufficient to provide all nutrients to the body.

Answer: No

Explanation:

Meat gives us protein and vitamins but deficient in carbohydrates and roughage and many other nutrients. Thus meat alone is not sufficient to provide all nutrients to the body.

Question (5) Fill in the blanks

(a) _______ is caused by deficiency of vitamin D.

Answer: Rickets is caused by deficiency of vitamin D.

(b) Deficiency of ______ causes a disease known as beri–beri.

Answer: Deficiency of Vitamin B1 causes a disease known as beri–beri.

(c) Deficiency of Vitamin C causes a disease know as _______.

Answer: Deficiency of Vitamin C causes a disease know as scurvy.

(d) Night blindness is caused due to deficiency of ________ in our food.

Answer: Night blindness is caused due to deficiency of Vitamin A in our food.

Extra Questions

Question (1) Write True for correct and False for incorrect statement

(a) We should eat more food which gives coarbohydrates.

Answer: True

(b) Vitamins are not necessary for our body.

Answer: False

Explanation: Vitamins help in protecting our body against diseases. Vitamins also help in keeping our eyes, bones, teeth and gums healthy.

Thus, vitamin are necessary for our body.

(c) Proteins called body building food.

Answer: True

(d) Fat is not the component of food.

Answer: False

Explanation: Fat is one of the important components of food.

(e) Animals can make vitamins.

Answer: False

Explanation: Animals cannot make vitamins.

Question (2) Fill in the blanks

(a) We should eat ........... vegetables.

Answer: We should eat green leafy vegetables.

(b) Carbohydrate contain carbon, .......... & .........

Answer: Carbohydrate contain carbon, hydrogen & oxygen

(c) B-complex is a .............

Answer: B-complex is a Vitamin

(d) Deficiency of iodine leads to a disease called ...........

Answer: Deficiency of iodine leads to a disease called Goiter.

(e) Anemia is a disease in which a person suffer from the .........

Answer: Anemia is a disease in which a person suffer from the Weakness.

Question (3) Very short answer type question.

(a) What is the cause of anemia?

Answer: Deficiency of vitamin B12 causes anemia.

(b) How much percentage of our body weight comprises of water?

Answer: About 70% of our body weight comprises of water.

(c) Deficiency of calcium leads to which disease?

Answer: Deficiency of calcium leads to a disease calledosteomalacia

(d) A person suffering from which type of disease due to lack of nutrients?

Answer: Deficiency diseases.

Question (4) Short answer type questions

(a) What do you understand by junk food?

Answer: Packed food items are called junk food. Example: chips, pizza, burger, etc.

(b) What is the role of protein?

Answer: Proteins are needed for the growth and repair of our body.

(c) Which vitamin is the secret of good eye sight?

Answer: Vitamin A is the secret of good eye sight.

(d) Write the name of foods which gives us carbohydrates?

Answer: Rice, bread, potato, corn, etc. give us carbohydrates.

(e) Why roughage is necessary in our diet?

Answer: Roughage is necessary in our diet because it helps our body to get rid of undigested food.

Question (5) Long answer type questions

(a) What are the main components of food?

Answer: Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals are the main components of food.

(b) Why should be eat a balanced diet?

Answer: A balance diet contains all the nutrients in proper ratio and adequate amount which are necessary for proper functioning of our body and good health. Thus, we should eat a balanced diet.

(c) What is the role of carbohydrate?

Answer: Carbohydrates gives us energy. Rice, bread, potato, corn, etc. gives us carbohydrates.

(d) How water is important for us?

Answer:

Water is important for us in following ways:

(i) Water helps our body to absorb nutrients from food.

(ii) Water also helps in throwing out wastes from body as urine and sweats.

(iii) 70% of our body is made of water.

(e) What do you understand by deficiency disease? Write the name some deficiency diseases and causes of those diseases.

Answer:

Diseases that occur due to lack of nutrients over a long period are called Deficiency diseases.

Example:

(a) Deficiency of vitamin A may leads to night blindness and even loss of vision.

(b) Deficiency of iron leads to a disease called anaemia.

(c) Deficiency of iodine may leads to a disease called goiter.

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