How Do You Know What is the Best Food to Eat?

How Do You Know What is the Best Food to Eat?

To get the nutrients that we need, we must eat food. Food is any material consumed to supply nutrition to the organisms. Food is categorized into three forms: plant foods, animal foods, and fungi foods. Each food type is made up of living material such as plants, animals and fungi. In this article we will discuss the classification of food, its nutritional value and its therapeutic properties.

Plants are the basic sources of food. They contain carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in various proportions depending upon the variety. Plants can be classified into grasses, fruits, roots, leafy vegetables, and bulbs. Plants derive nourishment from the sun, soil fertility, rainfall, weeds, flowers, seeds, rain, fish, poultry and hunting. These foods generally contain carbohydrates, fat, protein, salt, sugar, fiber, mineral salts, potassium, bromine, iron, phosphorus, iodine, manganese, selenium, zinc, magnesium, sulphur, iron, calcium, magnesium chloride, sodium, chlorine, carbon dioxide, niacin, thiamin, folate, riboflavin, taurine, inositol, lysine, choline, silymarin, folic acid, protein, flavonoids, hesperidin, taurine, heparotriol, glutathione, cysteine, glycerin, heptohalene, ginkgo biloba, saponins, tartaric acid and saponins.

Animals consist of tissues that make up the skeleton, muscles, blood, organs and other parts. Animal food energy is derived from carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Protein and carbohydrates are the principal sources of food energy. The major components of animal food are milk, meat, poultry, fish, eggs and by products of plants. The major nutrients in animal foods are fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

When fats are digested they become stored fatty acids which form fat stores. There is an optimum level for all food energy and food intake. This level is called the basal metabolic rate or BMR. When the BMR rises above about 7%, food intake (food energy) increases and when it decreases below this level it is considered low energy. BMR varies according to a person’s age, sex and activity.

Foods that are rich in carbohydrates and fiber are known as staple foods. These foods can be found in the diet of most people, especially in the U.S. Some examples of staple foods are: whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, whole rice, potatoes, pasta, breads, cereals, legumes and beans.

Fatty acids are found in many different food types and are needed for healthy functioning. However, some foods are better sources of these fatty acids than others. Oils, nuts and eggs are great sources of healthy fats. Other great foods to consume are fish, chicken, cheese, milk and other dairy products.