All living things need food to survive. It gives us energy for everything that we do. It also gives the body what it needs to repair muscles, organs and skin. Food helps us fight off dangerous diseases. Food has nutrients in it— substances that give our body many important things that we need. They provide us with energy and also help control the way our body grows.
Before nutrients can go to work food must be broken down so that they can pass into our body. This is called digestion. It starts when we chew the food that we eat. When we swallow it it travels on to the stomach where it is mixed together with water and other fluids. Then the food is passed on to the intestine. Nutrients escape through the walls of the intestine into our blood. From there they are carried to all parts of the body. Most food leaves waste that the body cannot use. Some of it goes to the kidneys and turns into urine. The liver also filters out waste. What is left over passes through the large intestine and leaves our body.
The nutrients in food enable the cells in our bodies to perform their necessary functions. Nutrients are the nourishing substances in food that are essential for the growth, development and maintenance of body functions. When nutrient intake does not regularly meet the nutrient needs dictated by the cell activity, the metabolic processes slow down or even stop. In other words, nutrients give our bodies instructions about how to function. In this sense, food can be seen as a source of "information" for the body.
There are six main groups of nutrients: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. The energy that food gives us is measured in kilocalories, or one thousand calories. A calorie is the energy that is needed to raise the temperature of water by one degree Celsius.
Water
Although water does not give us energy it is the most important nutrient. Water has many functions in our body. It helps break down food. It also cools the body down when it becomes too hot. The body carries away waste products in a watery solution. We get it from the water and liquids we drink but also from fruits, vegetables and other food.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for our body. Sugars and starches have carbohydrates in them. They are found in beans, bread , potatoes, cereals, corn, pasta, peas and potatoes. They provide our body with a constant supply of energy.
Fats
Our body needs fat in small amounts. Fats are made up of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. They store vitamins and produce fatty acids. We need these acids to produce cell membranes. Fats can come from animals or plants. They are in meat and dairy products, like butter and cheese. Other types of fats are in vegetable oils, nuts or seeds.
Proteins
Proteins are among the most important building blocks of our body. Muscles, skin, and hair, for example, are made up of proteins. Proteins are complex molecules made up of amino acids. Proteins are in cheese, eggs, fish, meat, milk, as well as in nuts, peas and beans.
Minerals
Minerals are needed for growth. They are inorganic, not made up of living things. Our body needs different amounts of various minerals.
Vitamins
Our body needs a variety of vitamins to stay healthy. Each of them does a different job. Vitamin A, for example, helps skin and hair grow. Vitamin C is needed to fight off infections. Vitamin D helps the growth of bones and teeth.
The key to staying healthy is eating the right food. So, It is important to eat a wide range of food in order to stay healthy.
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