Food and Nutrition
Science Four
Types of food
We eat different types of food like rice, bread, vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, fish, chicken, mutton etc. But, all nutrients are not found in all types of food.
For example – some food gives carbohydrates, some gives vitamins, some gives fats, etc.
Food can be divided into following types on the basis of nutrients found in them.
- Energy giving foods
- Body building foods
- Protective foods
Energy giving foods
Food items that give us energy are called energy giving foods. Bread, rice, potato, etc. give us carbohydrates, and are called energy giving foods.
Body building foods
Food items that give us proteins are called body building foods. Eggs, pulses, milk, cheese, fish and nuts are the main sources of proteins.
Protective food
Vitamins and minerals protect from diseases and keep us healthy. Food items that gives us vitamins and proteins are called protective foods. Spinach, mango, carrot, papaya, milk, lemaon, tomato, green vegetables, etc. are rich in vitamins and minerals. These food items are called protective foods. These food items protect us from diseases and keep healthy.
Vitamins
Vitamins are of many types. Some important vitamins are Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, etc.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A keeps our skin and eye sight healthy.
Spinach, mango, carrot, papaya, milk, butter, eggs, cod liver oil, etc. gives us vitamin A.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B helps in proper functioning of nerves and it is good for skin. Green leafy vegetables, soya beans, milk, peas, etc. are the main sources of vitamin B.
Vitamins C
Vitamin C keeps our gum healthy and it helps in healings of wounds.Orange, lemon, amla, tomato, green vegetables are the main sources of vitamins C.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Sun light, milk, egg, fish, cod liver oil, etc. are give us vitamin D.
Minerals
Although we need minerals in very low quantity, but Minerals are also important to keep our body healthy. These are calcium, phosphorus, iron and iodine.
Calcium
We need calcium for healthy bones and teeth. Calcium makes our bones and teeth strong. We get calcium from Milk and milk products, green leafy vegetables and sunlight.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is also necessary for our healthy bones and teeth.
Milk, egg, fish, green vegetables and pulses are the rich sources of phosphorous.
Iron
Iron helps in formation of haemoglobin in our blood and protect from infection. The red colour of blood is because of haemoglobin, which requires iron in formation. Blood supply energy we get from food items to whole of our body.
We get phosphorous from pulses, nuts, spinach, apple, sprouted grains, etc.
Iodine
Iodine is important for normal growth and development of the body. You must have been seen ‘iodised salt’ written on the packet of common salt used in our kitchen.
We get iodine from iodised table salt and sea foods such as fish and prawns.
Roughage
Roughage does not contain any nutrients. Roughage contains fibre. Intake of fibre in food items is necessary for getting rid of undigested food items from body in form of waste. In the absence of intake of fibrous food, less intake of fibrous food, one has to face the problem of constripation, which leads to many diseases.
Green vegetables and fruits are the sources of roughage.
Balanced Diet
Taking of food which contains all nutrients in proper ratio is balance diet.
A diet which contains all the nutrients in proper ratio and amount is called balance diet.
Taking of a balance diet keeps us healthy and fit. So, we must take balance diet. Balance diet is so important that there is specialist in hospitals called dietician, who advise about food items one should be taken.
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