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The importance of food
The importance of food
The importance of food
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Nutrition is the essential organic nutrients living organisms require for growth, maintenance, reproduction and repair. This is an essential process for the organism’s survival. Living organisms require energy to survive; this energy is derived from nutrients, or food. Ingestion, digestion, absorption and excretion are the stages of processing food. Heterotrophs are organisms which cannot synthesise their own food and are therefore totally reliant on organic substances for nutrition. Animals are heterotrophs and are divided into three categories; herbivores, carnivores and omnivores depending on how they obtain their food. Herbivores: eat mainly plant material, seeds or fruit. (Gordon McL Dryden, 2008). Omnivores: eat both vegetable and animal material. Carnivores: eat meat (they can also eat insects and fish).Plants are autotrophs, they synthesise organic substances from inorganic molecule using sunlight energy.
All animals, fungi, most protists and prokaryotes are heterotrophs (Raven et al. 2009), animals which cannot live on inorganic nutrients alone. They obtain the organic nutrients they require from the products of photosynthesis produced by autotrophs. The ability of an animal to feed itself is closely related to its reproductive success. According to (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutrition (3/3/11, 12:44)) there are six main classes of nutrients required by animals. These nutrients are either macronutrients (high quantities required) or micronutrients (small quantities required). The macronutrients include carbohydrates, fats, protein, and water. The micronutrients are mainly minerals and vitamins.
Many nutrients and vitamins which animals need to survive cannot be synthesised and must be supplied in the diet, these nut...
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...rganic sources; Broomrapes are parasitic plants, they are non photosynthetic and obtain water and all required nutrients from the root of their host plants.
In conclusion living organisms require many nutrients. These nutrients are required to ensure energy is available for growth, maintenance, reproduction and repair. Some nutrients are needed in high amounts whereas others only in low amounts. All living organisms require different nutrients for survival however if heterotrophs or autotrophs lack essential nutrients and cannot obtain these in their diet they will show signs of deficiency and eventually die.
Works Cited
Animal nutrition science (Gordon McL Dryden, 2008)
Biology (Raven et al. 2009)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutrition (3/3/11, 12:44)
New Higher Biology (J Torrance, C Stevenson, J Fullarton, C Marsh, J Simms 2nd Revised edition,2000)
What is an omnivore? An omnivore is a creature that consumes both plants and animals for nutrition. In Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, he explains just as the title suggests, the omnivore’s dilemma. In it he describes how omnivores, such as ourselves, came to eat the way we do now.
The human body requires 6 basic nutrients. These 6 are Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, vitamins, and minerals.
“Nutrition is the science/study of ways in which the body uses food. It is also the study of how and why we make food choices” (Lesson 18). Nutrients are substances in food that provide energy for body tissues and are necessary for life and growth. There are six classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. Carbohydrates are a class of energy-giving nutrients that include sugars, starches, and fiber. Carbohydrates can be simple (donuts, chocolate, french fries, and gummy bears) or complex (bread, pasta, broccoli, oatmeal, and bananas). Fats are a class of energy-giving nutrients and are the main form in which energy is stored in the body. Fats can be good or bad for you and are either saturated (meats, butter, dairy) or unsaturated (vegetable oils). Proteins are nutrients made up of amino acids, which are needed to build/ repair body structures and to regulate processes in the body. There are incomplete proteins (fruits, vegetables, oats, bread, and rice) and complete (meat and dairy) versions of proteins. Water is an essential class of nutrients that keeps you alive and is necessary for almost every bodily function. Our bodies are made of approximately 60% percent water and because exercise makes you lose water through sweating it is important to drink at least 8 glasses a day. Minerals are a class of nutrients needed for certain body processes such as enzyme activity and bone
These nutrients include fat, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and water. These list values measure the nutrient intakes of healthy people, and their major goal is to help prevent chronic diseases. Dietary Reference Intakes are broken down by gender and age. The daily recommendations for my age, 31-50 are as follows: Calories – 2,403, Carbohydrates – 130 grams, Protein – 46 grams, and Fiber – 25 grams.
The science of human nutritional requirements i.e. Nutrition is a dynamic science and all is not known, discoveries are being made almost on a daily basis and apart from this the difficulty on determining the singular nutrient effect the human body is virtually impossible.
Carbohydrates, fats, and protein are the three nutrients in food. Carbohydrates consist of foods like starches, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and sugars. Fats are foods such as butter, margarine, salad dressing, oil, nuts, meat, poultry, fish and some dairy products. Foods that provide protein include meat, poultry, fish, cheese, milk, dairy products, eggs, and dried beans.
Starting a vegetarian diet requires planning, because there are many nutrients that cannot be received from plants. The major nutrient received from meat is protein. Protein is necessary to rebuild cells and to have strong bones and muscles. Protein is important for a high-energy level and overall good health (Becoming a Vegetarian 2014).Protein, iron, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and zinc are all vitamins minerals that a vegetarian must find alternative sources of because they are mainly obtained through eating meat (Becoming a Vegetarian 2014).Many vegetarians get these through vitamin supplements. If a person does not get enough iron, they can develop anemia. It is important for a vegetarian to get proper
“If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise not too little not too much, we would have food the safest way of health” (Barasi.E.M, 2003). This essay is going to discuss on the important of six essential nutrients in human body. According to PosnerB.M (1998), he define essential nutrients as a nutrients that the body cannot synthesize on its own-or not to an adequate amount and must be provided by the died. Oxford dictionary (2009), also define essential nutrients as are those nutrients that are required by the body and cannot be synthesise in the adequate amount to meet requirement, so must be provided by the diet. Essential nutrients are those found to be essential to human life and optimal function, Williams.M. H (2006).There are six main type of nutrients used to maintain body health. They are carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and water. They must be in balance for the body to function properly.
Vitamins are essential aids in many body processes, converting food the energy, building and maintaining cells, and other functions.
In 1891, a German zoologist named Karl Semper introduced the concept of a food chain, a process that is requisite for all living creatures. The chain consists of different levels. On the bottom are plants, then herbivores, the animals that eat plants. Next are carnivores, animals that eat other animal species, and the last are the animals that eat carnivores. The chain tends to overlap due to animals that eat more than one kind of food. Some people choose to be carnivores, while others choose to be herbivores due to the feeling that it is wrong to eat another living being. Humans are usually thought of as the superior animals on the Earth and living in modern society many nutritious foods are provided, especially meat. Some people choose to live herbivorous lifestyles due to moral and ethic reasoning, which can easily result in malnutrition as well as health risks that could have easily been avoided had they eaten carnivorously.
Nutritional deficiency can be defined as an insufficient supply of required nutrients (as vitamins and minerals) in the diet, thus this can lead to malnutrition (‘Nutritional Deficiency’ n.d.). Vegetarian diets lack of many types of nutrients such as protein, iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin D3 and vitamin B12. One of the most common nutrients that are very hard to be found in a vegetarian diet is vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is necessary for us to consume because it helps to build a normal functioning body and brain. Animal products provide enough amount of vitamin B12. According to Walton (2011), he stated that the lack of vitamin B12 can cause problems in cell functioning, dizziness, anemia, poor concentration and many more.
An optimal diet can be defined as the following; a diet that maximizes health and longevity and, therefore, prevents nutrient deficiencies, reduces risks for diet-related chronic diseases, and is composed of foods that are available, safe and palatable (Kudlackova, Babinska & Valachovicova, 2005). With this in mind, one can first inquire which nutrients are lacking from diets comprised highly of meat. On the basis of proteins, plants are much richer in non-essential amino acids in comparison to meat. Other nutrients that are missing from diets that consist largely of meat include; carbohydrates, antioxidative vitamins, minerals, fiber and vitamin C (Kudlackova, Babinska & Valachovicova, 2005).
Humans depend on plants in numerous ways. One reason we depend on plants is for consumption. Plants have the unique ability to produce their own food through a process called photosynthesis. In this process, plants are able to produce macromolecules such as carbohydrates that cannot be produced in animals or humans. In humans, the only way to gain these macromolecules is to consume plant matter, or consume plant-eating animals (herbivores).
Without food you will be starving to death. With foods it keeps your body alive and kicking with the nutrients and minerals you intake it keeps your energy level at high. The food groups that contributes to the sustenance of life includes; Glow foods such as Vegetables and Fruits, Grains. Grow foods such as dairy, meat and other alternatives of meat with rich in protein that helps us grow big and strong. Go foods that provides energy such as bread rice and any other foods that primarily provides carbohydrates.
...ts. It is important to understand which substances need to be consumed more than others and also why the body needs to consume a substance. Proper diet and nutrition is a vital component to a long and healthy life.