Dorothy FarrarGroceries
Human food is of plant and animal origin . It consists of edible and drinkable energy-rich organic matter. The generic term for these substances is food .
What is food made of?
Like every living being, humans also need substances with which the energy requirements for all vital processes of the body are covered. He consumes this energy in the form of food or nourishment. Proper and regular nutrition is one of the principles of a healthy lifestyle .
Food contains nutrients (carbohydrates, fats and proteins) and supplements (water, mineral salts, vitamins, fiber, flavorings and fragrances). Nutrients are high-molecular energy-rich organic substances. The most important components of food are divided into the following nutrients:
carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are organic substances made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They are among the most important sources of energy. Carbohydrates include:
• Simple sugars: monosaccharides (e.g. glucose, fructose, easily soluble)
• Disaccharides: disaccharides (e.g. table sugar, sugar cane, soluble)
• Triple sugar: trisaccharides (e.g. forest honey, less soluble)
• Multiple sugars: polysaccharides (e.g. potato starch, liver, muscle meat, poorly soluble or insoluble)
Fats (lipids)
Fats are organic substances that consist of the combination of glycerol and fatty acids. Fats are the most important source of energy.
They have the highest calorific value of all nutrients. Fats are sparingly soluble in water and can be of plant or animal origin.
Depending on their state of aggregation, a distinction is made between liquid (oils) and solid fats.
Vegetable fats/oils: margarine, hard fats, sunflower, rapeseed, olive, safflower, nut oil etc.
Animal fats/oils: butter, bacon, lard, fish oil, blubber, etc.
Proteins
Proteins are organic substances composed of a large number of amino acids . the building blocks of proteins. The human organism is made up of 20 amino acids.
Man himself produces 12 amino acids, the other 8 must be supplied externally through food. These externally supplied amino acids are called essential amino acids. The quality and the balanced ratio of the amino acid molecules are decisive for the absorption of proteins (value of the proteins).
Proteins are an important building block for building muscle tissue . Especially with a healthy, balanced diet (e.g. in sports nutrition, diets , etc.), the optimal balance with regard to the quantity and quality of the proteins consumed plays an important role.
Foods with a high protein value include: protein/egg yolk, whey proteins, fish, potatoes, rice, beef, poultry, soy, milk, legumes, etc. If you combine different foods in a sensible way, the overall protein value can be increased. A concentrated form of protein ( protein powder ) also increases the intake of high-quality proteins.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic substances that the human body cannot usually produce itself. In small amounts, however, they are vital for the process and regulation of important bodily functions and must therefore be ingested through food.
Too little vitamin intake can lead to severe deficiency symptoms . Vitamins can be of both plant and animal origin. Some of the vitamins can also be produced synthetically.
As part of a healthy and balanced diet, optimal vitamin intake can usually only be guaranteed through vitamins in natural foods such as fruit and vegetables. Vitamins are denoted by the capital letters of the alphabet. Below you will find a list of the most important vitamins.
Water
Water is a basic element of all food. It is required for all biological and chemical processes (including the transport of substances) in the organism.
Humans consist of about 60-70% water. An adult needs about 2.5 liters of water in 24 hours. Almost 50% of this is ingested with food.
The amount of demand can increase significantly at high ambient temperatures and physical exertion. Therefore, a regular and sufficient intake of water, especially in high heat and in people with poor circulation, is essential to maintain all bodily functions.
Mineral water (still, medium), unsweetened herbal or fruit teas and fruit juice spritzers (3 parts water to 1 part juice) are particularly suitable for optimally covering the liquid requirement, also from the point of view of a calorie-conscious diet .
Mineralsalze
Unlike most other nutrients, mineral salts are inorganic components of food. They are also an important building block in nutrition and must therefore be ingested in small amounts with food or drink every day.
Fiber
Dietary fiber is mostly indigestible carbohydrates from mostly plant-based foods. An important dietary fiber is cellulose, a fibrous building material in plants that the human body cannot digest.
The digestive enzymes are largely resistant to this plant material. Only a few bacteria can partially break down cellulose and make it digestible.
Dietary fibers are indispensable as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Fiber causes the stomach to swell. A feeling of satiety sets in faster. This can help with weight loss.
Dietary fiber also plays an important role in diabetic nutrition. A high-fiber diet enables diabetics to better control their blood sugar levels . Dietary fibers are found in foods such as fruit, vegetables, grains or legumes.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.