Food is any material consumed to supply nutrition to the organisms. Food is usually of animal, plant or floral source, and usually contains necessary nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, or other minerals. It comprises about eighty percent of the total mass of animals and plants on earth. The remaining twenty percent is consumed for their protein and other characteristics. Foods generally serve several purposes in nature, including nourishment to the body, to digest, to build up, to store and to excrete.
The main function of food is to meet the nutritional requirements of the human body. The carbohydrates found in various foods are converted into energy for the body to use; they are also needed for the growth and development of the body. Other important sources of carbohydrates include vegetables, cereals, legumes (such as beans), fruits and whole grain breads. These foods are excellent sources of both energy and other nutrients. However, the most important function of foods is to provide adequate levels of carbohydrates to provide energy for the body’s daily activities.
Carbohydrates come in many varieties, with different biological properties and uses. Some foods, for example, are rich in dietary fiber and can slow down the entry of sugar into the body. Other foods, like some vegetables and fruits, have certain properties that are conducive to good health and thus beneficial in preventing obesity and maintaining weight loss.
Plants, animals and fungi all contain carbohydrates and some nutrients that are required for human consumption. Animals produce the bulk of food, but some plant food are necessary for animal welfare, like protection against hunger and other diseases. Fungi, which are some kind of microorganisms that exist in certain foods, provide a source of nutrition and serve to strengthen the immunity of humans, but their presence in the foods should not be counted as a problem, as long as they do not cause an imbalance in the body.
How many carbohydrates you eat depends on what you need to live healthy. If you want to lose weight, you have to decrease your intake of calories. You can eat lots of fat, but be sure you choose the right kind of fats, such as unsaturated fats. The unsaturated fats in these fats are better for you than other kinds of fats. Unsaturated fats can reduce cholesterol levels and may also lower blood pressure. Since carbohydrates can provide the body with nutrients, including energy, the same thing happens when you eat too many carbohydrates.
The best types of fat to eat are omega-3 fatty acids, found in some fish and nuts. These fats are essential to human health is affected by whether or not you get enough of these essential fatty acids. Vitamin A, D and K are also fats that the body needs, but you only need a small amount of vitamin A, D and K for good health. Other foods contain higher amounts of vitamins A, E and K.
