Nutrition

The process of acquiring the adequate amount of nutrients as required by the body is called nutrition and the nutrients are those useful chemical substances present in our body required for getting energy, for normal growth and for protection of body from different infections and diseases.

    

The growth, maintenance and repair of cells and tissues need different foodstuffs. The individual’s health is influenced by what he/she eats. Nutrients which are essential for normal growth and functioning must be included in our regular diet. The nutrients value of food can be affected adversely or favourably while processing and preparing it. Therefore, we should be careful while processing and preparing our food. The food stuff can be divided into six groups.

Carbohydrates: It consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They provide heat and energy to the body. The main sources of carbohydrates are wheat, maize, rice, potato, sugarcane, honey, etc. one gram of carbohydrate provides 4.1 calories of energy.

Fats: Fat is another important source of energy, which consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Fats contain less oxygen and the percentage of carbon and hydrogen are high. There are two sources of fats, i.e., nuts, mustard, sunflower, soybean, etc. one gram of fats provides 9.3 calories of heat energy.

Proteins: It consists of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and so on. Protein is necessary for the body to build up the tissues and to repair the worn-out tissues. Especially the growing age children need proteins in significant amount. The main sources of proteins are egg, meat, pea, bean, milk, soybean, etc.

Minerals: Minerals refer to those basic elements, which are found in the soil. Calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, iron, copper, zinc are some of the minerals, which we need. These minerals are found in the soil and we get it via vegetables, plants and animals. The sources of minerals in our food are egg, milk, vegetables, fruits, etc.

Vitamins: Vitamins protects us from the disease. It is a part of enzyme that regulates chemical reactions in the body and also assists in metabolic process. Vitamins are organic compounds, which are essential to our daily activities in order to maintain normal growth and development. Vitamins do not produce energy but perform specific and vital function in the cells and tissues of the body, as for example, they increase immunity, production of hormones and metabolism. Vitamins can be classified as fats soluble vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K, and water soluble vitamins like vitamin B complex and vitamin C. Eggs, fish, meat, liver, milk, carrot, tomato, wheat, cauliflower, cabbage, fruits, vegetables, etc are sources of vitamins.

Water: Water is another essential element for our life. It is composed of oxygen and hydrogen. Water forms about 60-70 per cent of the total weight of the body. It regulates the body temperature and assists in the elimination of waste products from the body. In the absence of water, the body cannot regulate the different systems properly. Water also helps as a solvent for innumerable substances and transporting nutrients and waste materials. The use of contaminated water leads to various problems. Thus, attention should be given whether the water is safe or not before use. Water can be found from rain, spring, river, lake, sea and so on. Different types of fruits are the other sources of water.