Food Types and Nutrients
Food Types and Nutrients
To receive the proper amounts of vitamins and other important nutrients in your diet, you need food. Different kinds of food are needed for different functions. The human body needs certain kinds of food to survive, but most people eat too much and don’t get enough of the nutrients they need. If a person doesn’t eat enough food, then his health suffers. There are several types of food, but only a few are actually essential to human life.
Carbohydrates – These are the main sources of energy for humans and are found in both plant and animal matter. Carbohydrates are a large amount of glucose that flows through the body in cells to give energy. Most carbohydrates come from vegetables, fruits, grains, and seeds. Food that is rich in carbohydrates is beneficial to the body, because it is used as a source of energy to maintain normal function of the human body, and is used to build up large amounts of strength and resistance against diseases and other problems.
Fibre – this refers to the threads of starch that is found in plants and that can be utilised to make foods such as pasta and cereal products. Fiber is important because it slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and starches. When you have a high intake of fibres, you will be able to absorb more nutrients into your body. Food that is made by combining carbohydrates and fibres is called fibrous. Examples of fibrous food are pulses, vegetables, brown rice, nuts and whole grain bread. Eating a lot of fibre helps people to control their cholesterol levels, since fibre helps to reduce the absorption of bad cholesterol and increases the absorption of good cholesterol.
Nutrients – these are substances which are required by the body without causing harm. The four major nutrients that are most important to human life are carbohydrates, fat, protein and water. The intake of these nutrients in your diet determines your general health, and research session 2 nutrients was conducted to determine what changes people need to make in order to receive them better. The study found that there are certain food sources which are more useful than others when it comes to absorption of certain nutrients. It is important for people to eat foods that contain a lot of one of the sources of these nutrients, for example, foods that are rich in carbohydrates should be eaten, while those with protein should be eaten.
Fats and Oils – these are two groups of fat and oil that are important nutrients when consumed, but which are also best avoided when possible. Over consumption of fats and oils has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and other circulatory disorders. The type of fat or oil you eat however, does not always determine the amount of these nutrients that are absorbed by the body. This is because different types of fats and oils have different molecular structures. In addition, there are also factors, such as gender and race, which play an important role in the absorption rates of these nutrients.
Macronutrients and Fat – both of these groups of macronutrients are essential for health, but they are not the only ones that are good for you. Fish oil contains special compounds called omega 3 fatty acids, which are actually the main source of these substances for your body. Salmon is also a good fish to eat as long as its oil is not too heavy on the flesh. Meat is another great food to eat if you do not like fish. Lean meats such as chicken or pork can provide a great deal of nutrition. Egg yolks are also full of these substances and so are some dairy products like milk and cheese.