The Importance of Food In Your Diet
Food is any substance consumed in order to supply nutrition to the organisms. Basically, food is generally of plant, animal, or fungi origin, and has various important nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, or other minerals. The human body needs a wide range of different foods in order to meet its daily requirements. Generally speaking, humans are omnivores; they eat plants, fungi, animals, and other forms of organic matter. Humans require at least six foods in their diet in order to receive all the necessary nutrients for their well-being.
Plants and animal materials like proteins and carbohydrates can be broken down into two main categories: plant foods and animal foods. Each class of food contains both pro-organic and anti-organic compounds, which provide different advantages for living things. Pro-organic compounds are made from carbon compounds that derive from living matter. Anti-organic compounds consist of carbon compounds that are not living things. They are made synthetically, through the addition of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide to the raw materials.
Plants contain carbohydrates, which are the main source of energy for all creatures. Most plants contain carbohydrates by means of photosynthesis, through the conversion of sunlight into food. Some plant foods, like corn and legumes, contain large amounts of starch, while others, like wheat and rice, contain small amounts of starch. Some plants also contain significant amounts of fat, such as that found in avocados, potatoes, peanuts, chocolate, and walnuts.
Animals manufacture proteins in their organs, tendons, bones, muscles, and blood. Meat, fish, poultry, and eggs, and other animal-based products, like dairy and eggs, are the main sources of protein. Plants contain almost all of the nutrient that humans and animals need to survive, and these foods provide some of the building blocks of our bodies. The remaining portion of the food is made up of complex carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
A major part of the nutrient makeup of our diets, both animal and plant based, are protein. Protein is the main source of amino acids, which are the building blocks of muscles and tissues. A good example of a vegetable that is high in protein is kidney beans. Other foods high in protein include nuts, seeds, eggs, and wheat germ. Animal meat is high in fat, but also contains important nutrients like calcium, iron, zinc, copper, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. Rice and potatoes are also excellent sources of carbohydrates.
Eating a diet rich in nutrients can improve your overall health. In particular, foods rich in antioxidants help to protect the body against the formation of many types of cancer, including colon cancer and breast cancer. Antioxidants work by removing free radicals, which can damage cell membranes, causing cell damage. In addition to reducing the risk of certain cancers, foods high in antioxidants can also help to boost the immune system, allowing the body to fight off other illnesses including asthma, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease.