Food World

Food World Updates and News

What Is Food?

Food is the substance that absorbs to provide nutritional support of an organism. It is usually of plant and animal origin that contains essential nutrients such a Proteins, Carbohydrates, Fats, Vitamins, Minerals, Roughage, Water etc.

Various Food

How Food can be Classified?

On the basis of Nutrients, Food can be classified into seven different categories:

1. Proteins

2. Carbohydrates

3. Fats

4. Vitamins

5. Minerals

6. Roughage

7. Water

1. Proteins:   Protein is a highly complex substance that is present in all organisms( living). Protein has a great nutritional value that is involved in the chemical process of life. The term protein was coined in 1843 by Swedish Chemists Jon Jacob Berzelius derived from the Greek word proteios meaning "holding the first place". The protein food is much more complex in character and all contain nitrogen element which is essential for life. Proteins contain different elements like nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur in different amounts.Proteins can also contain Phosphorus and iron and other elements also.

Functions of Proteins: 

The function of proteins are:
1. For Growth and development 
2. For Repair and Maintenance 
3. Synthesize the certain substance like enzyme and hormones

Structure of Protein :

Molecular structure of peptides(a small protein)consists of a sequence of amino acids

Sources:

 The proteins are found in plants(Vegetable food), as well as animals and, are known as animal and vegetable Protein. The animal sources of protein are Milk, Fish, Meat, Egg etc. The Plant sources of Protein are mostly found in plants, dal, pulses, peas, beans. The food enriches protein in plants and animals sources are essential in Human Nutrition.

2. Carbohydrates: 

Carbohydrates are found in starches, sugars, and fibers found in food, grains, vegetables and milk products. A carbohydrate bio-molecule consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. It is the main source of energy of food. In Indian diets, carbohydrates are present in excessive amounts, in some cases calories around 90% in food. In a balanced diet, calories should not more than 50-60 percent of the total calories.

Sources of Carbohydrates:   

There are three main sources of carbohydrates- Starches, Sugars, and Cellulose Starches that are present in cereals, roots, and also in the plant stem. Cereals such as Wheat, rice is the most dietary carbohydrate. Sugar can be found in fruits, honey or the things that contain sugar. Glucose is an important element for the sugar especially for small children, during the period of their growth and teething. jams, honey or any other fruits also provide sugar. Cellulose is the fibrous substance of fruits and vegetables. It is difficult for us to digest and has low nutritional value.

3. Fat: Fat is also an important diet for people. it also contains carbon, Oxygen, and Hydrogen. 

Functions of fat: The functions of fat are:

1. Fats are concentrated and acceptable sources of food energy. One gram of fat contains 9 calories of energy.
2. Fats carry Vitamins- A, D, E and K which are fat soluble vitamins.
3. Fats provide essential fatty acids. These are required by the body for growth and maintenance of the body.
4. Fats support many organisms in a body such as heart, Kidney, Intestine etc.

Sources of fats: 

Dietary fats are divided into two main groups:

1. Animal Sources: They are Ghee, Butter and fish oils etc. Animals fats have more saturated fatty acids than vegetable fats. They contain Vitamin A and D which lacks in vegetable fats.

2. Vegetable Sources: These sources include oils such as Groundnut oils, Mustard oils, and Coconut oils. Vanaspati which is a popular cooking medium, This is manufactured from groundnut oil and cottonseed oil. 

Fats such as Ghee, Butter, and oil are also called "Visible fats." because it is easy to estimate.

But fat present in food such as milk, egg, meat is called "Invisible Fats." because it is difficult to estimate and find a place in the human diet.

4. Vitamins: Vitamins are organic compounds that needed for us to sustain in life. Most Vitamins come to need from food. There are six types of Vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K. Vitamins are also important for normal metabolisms.
A vitamin is Both :

• Organic Compound, which means it contains carbon.
• An essential Nutrient that the body can't produce we have to get it from food.

Fat Soluble and Water Soluble Vitamins:

Vitamins are both fat-soluble as well as water-soluble. 

• Fat Soluble Vitamins-- Fats Soluble Vitamins are stored in fatty acids and tissues of the body and Liver. Mostly Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble vitamins. They are easier to store and more reliable than water Soluble vitamins. These type of vitamins can stay live in the body.
• Water Soluble Vitamins-- These type of vitamins are not stayed alive in the body for more times. Our body cannot store them. Mostly Vitamin C and B are Water Soluble.

5. Roughage: Roughage is a term that generally used to identify different carbohydrates in food. Sometimes it is referred to as Dietary food. It is an important part o any healthy Diet plan . there are different types of Roughage. Fruits are one of the most common types of Roughage in which apples, Pears and grapes are the common examples. 
Roughage comes in two different forms: Soluble Fibre and Insoluble Fibre. Roughage is found mostly in Food, Grains, Fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds.

 What are the Sources of Roughage?

6.Minerals: Mineral plays an important role in the functioning of the body which includes normal growth, hormone secretion etc. Minerals come from the food we eat and are basically macrominerals and microminerals. Macrominerals are basically found in Calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus etc. On the other hand, Microminerals are found in copper, fluoride, manganese, and zinc. 

7. Water: As we know, water is an important part of our life. Without Water, Life is nothing. Water is routinely used in food production as an ingredient for cleaning, sanitation and manufacturing purposes. it is important to drink eight glasses of water every day.