A Food Deficiency Can Lead To Serious Disease
February 11, 2021Food, more specifically nutrition, is any material consumed by an organism to give it nutritional support. In the simplest terms, food is food made up of carbohydrates, protein, fat, or vitamins and has other important nutrients, like minerals, carbohydrates, proteins or vitamins. There are 5 major food groups. These groups are carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. The five groups do not necessarily coincide, but most of the time the groupings of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals used interchangeably. In this article we will be discussing and giving examples of each major food group and how they affect your health.
Carbohydrates are those substances which give energy to the body and are broken down to glucose, starch and acids. These foods are mainly used as an energy source by the body but can be stored in the body as glycogen, which is then turned into glucose when necessary. Carbohydrates can be found in fruits, vegetables, legumes (like beans), grains (especially rice and pasta), cereals, and dairy products. Eating a balanced diet and getting ample amounts of fluids is essential to keep your body healthy and having sufficient amounts of carbohydrates is an important part of being healthy.
Proteins are amino acids that are essential to life and also are needed to produce proteins for the body. There are two types of proteins: non-essential and essential. Non-essential proteins are made from non-food materials, while essential proteins are made from food. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk products, beans, nuts, seeds, and legumes are rich in proteins. The recommended dietary allowance of proteins is about a gram per pound of body weight.
Vitamin C is considered to be a universal food vitamin, since it is present in fruits, vegetables, meats, and other foods. The skin, nails, bones, blood, and other tissues contain vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for the growth and maintenance of strong bones and teeth, so most people eat enough vitamin C through their diet. However, too much vitamin C or large quantities of vitamin C in the body may cause diarrhea, stomachaches, weakness, bleeding, and stomach cancer. Since vitamin C is found in citrus fruit and other foods that may be artificially added to food, it is advised that a small amount of vitamin C is taken daily as a dietary fibre.
Inflammation is necessary for many people’s health and it is activated by many foods including alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and sugar. Too much of any one of these can cause a protein deficiency. When protein is deficient, the body has difficulty making new cells and it can weaken the immune system. This can lead to major diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, asthma, and autoimmune disorders. It can also lead to high blood pressure, poor immunity against infectious diseases, and depression.
A number of amino acids are found in most plant-based foods. Most of these essential amino acids can be found in dairy products, nuts, legumes, and seeds. However, some of these nutrients cannot be found in many foods because they are not naturally synthesized by plant life. Some non-natural essential amino acids are considered good dietary sources. A variety of different foods contain different amounts of amino acids, so the overall dietary needs of a person will depend on their nutrient needs and what the specific food contains.