All
of us want to live a healthy life.
We
know that “Health is Wealth”. A healthy mind dwells only in a healthy body. Most
of our food is made of these things. We get food from plants and
animals.
Depending
on what grows easily at which place, different things are eaten at different places.
We not only eat different things but we also use the same things to prepare a
variety of food items.
Sometimes,
we may not really have all this variety in our meals. If we are travelling, we
may eat whatever is available on the way. It may not be possible for some of
us, to eat such a variety of items, most of the time.
Let
us talk about those things that we do eat. Put on the things that you eat
often. rice ,wheat ,barley oats, maize millet kappa (tapioca) ragi.
WHAT
DO DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS CONTAIN?
We
know that each dish is usually made up of one or more ingredients, which we get
from plants or animals.
These
ingredients contain some components that are needed by our body. These
components are called nutrients.
The
major nutrients in our food are named carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins
and minerals. In addition, food contains dietary fibres and water which are
also needed by our body.
What
is the real purpose of eating food?
Is
it only taste or in any reasons behind it?
Food
helps us to grow, to give energy, to be healthy.
These useful substances in food that provide you
all these three are called Nutrients.They
are different types nutrients are present in food we can also call them
components of food.
Carbohydrates and fats gives us energy to work and play.
Rice, wheat, sweet potato, pluses, sugar, bananas have plentsy of
carbohydrates.
Proteins
help us to grow and to build and repair the worn out cells in our body.
Proteins helps in healing small wounds and cuts. There are called Body building
food.
EXAMPLES:
Milk
Egg
Meat
Pulses
Beans
Fish
Panner
These
food items are rich in proteins.
Fats
are found in oil, ghee, nuts and cheese. They us more energy than carbohydrates
and also keep our body warm. Fats stored food in our body.
EXAMPLES:
Groundnuts
Coconut
oil
Vegetable
oil
Olive
oil
Nut
Excess
of fat food contains –obesity.
Who
will protect our body from enemies?
Do
you know a type Nutritious food that protect our body from enemies.
Vitamins
and Minerals. Vitamins help in protecting our body against diseases. They also
keep our eyes, bones teeth and gums healthy. Our body needs vitamin A, B, C, D.
Vitamin
A keeps our skin and eyes healthy. Vitamin C helps body to fight against many
diseases. Vitamin D helps our body to use calcium for bones and teeth.
Minerals
are required in small amounts in our body. They are essential for proper growth
of body and for maintaining good health.
Each one is essential Besides these nutrients,
our body needs dietary fibres and water. Dietary fibres are also known as
roughage. Roughage is mainly provided by plant products in our foods. Whole
grains and pulses, potatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables are main sources of
roughage.
Roughage
does not provide any nutrient to our body, but is an essential component of our
food and adds to its bulk. This helps our body get rid of undigested food.
Plants foods contain a lot of fibre or roughage that helps to get rid of waste
from the body.
Water
helps our body to absorb nutrients from food. It also helps in throwing out
some wastes from body as urine and sweat.
Normally, we get most of the water
that our body needs from the liquids we drink — such as water, milk and tea.
The
food we normally eat in a day is our diet. For growth and maintenance of good
health, our diet should have all the nutrients that our body needs, in right
quantities.
Not
too much of one and not too little of the other. The diet should also contain a
good amount of roughage and water. Such a diet is called a balanced diet.
South Indian foods such as idlis, a
combination of flours (missi roti, thepla made from cereals and pulses),
banana, spinach, sattu, jaggery, available vegetables and other such foods provide
many nutrients.
Therefore, one can eat a balanced diet without expensive food materials.
Eating
the right kind of food is not enough. It should also be cooked properly so that
its nutrients are not lost.
Are
you aware that some nutrients get lost in the process of cooking and preparations?
may result in the loss of some vitamins.
The
skins of many vegetables and fruits contain vitamins and minerals. Similarly,
repeated washing of rice and pulses may remove some vitamins and minerals
present in them.
We
all know that cooking improves the taste of food and makes it easier to digest.
At the same time, cooking also results in the loss of certain nutrients. Many
useful proteins and considerable amounts of minerals are lost if excess water
is used during cooking and is then thrown away.
Vitamin
C gets easily destroyed by heat during cooking. Would it not be sensible to
include some fruits and raw vegetables in our diet?
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