Food is any substance absorbed into the body to give it nutritional support. The diet is a collection of food substances that an individual ingests to meet his/her nutritional requirements. Food is generally of animal, plant or fungus origin, and consists of necessary nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, or other minerals. When ingested, the food must be metabolized by the body before the nutrient can be used. Therefore, most of the food that humans consume is transformed to some degree during the digestion process.
The majority of food that is consumed is converted to some form of sugars, which are further broken down into other forms of sugars and are eventually absorbed as nutrients in the human body. However, the majority of food that is eaten does not provide complete nutrition. In fact, many nutrients are virtually waste products from the plant and animal matter that was used to create the food. These nutrients are rarely used by the body in their natural state because they cannot be absorbed in sufficient amounts.
The good news is that complete nutrition is possible when foods are digested and absorbed in the body in their raw and natural state. This happens at different stages of the food’s processing. When animals feed themselves, they consume enzymes that break down the food into simpler, more nutrient-filled foods that can then be digested and absorbed by the body. During a person’s digestive process, however, enzymes also occur naturally. These chemical processes provide the basis for healthy, effective nutrition.
The first category of food that the body needs to survive is protein. Protein is necessary for building and repairing the body, as well as a variety of other bodily functions. It is found in meats, nuts, vegetables, and legumes. Although some vegetarians may choose to eliminate some nutrients from their diet in order to limit animal protein, healthy vegetarian diets include a variety of healthy proteins, such as beans and nuts, that are made from whole grains. Soy products and lentils are rich in protein.
Next on the list of food essentials is dietary fibre. Many people are not getting enough of this essential substance because it is not soluble in water or easily absorbed by the body. Fats, on the other hand, are easily metabolized by the body, which produces hormones that are needed to control hunger. Oily, greasy, sweet, and saturated fats all contain high levels of dietary fibre.
Last on the list of food essentials is vitamins A, C, E, and K. Vitamin A is needed for the formation of new cells, while E and K help maintain the health of the organs and tissues. Vitamin A is found in carrots, spinach, cantaloupe, liver, and egg yolks, while E and K are found in fatty acids found in fish, nuts, and whole grains. These vitamins are also found in many fruits and vegetables, although one should not rely solely on these sources when preparing a diet. A daily vitamin supplement may be necessary to provide the necessary vitamins in addition to the above-mentioned ones. The recommended daily allowance of each vitamin is 100 international units per day.