FUNCTIONS OF FOOD
Food is classified according to
their functions in the body as shown in Figure 1.
The physiological functions of food can be
further sub divided as follows
a.
Energy yielding foods
b.
Body building foods
c. Protective and regulatory food.
Food Sources: Cereals, millets,
roots and tubers, sweets, jaggery and sugar, fats and oils.
Energy is mainly provided to our body through
carbohydrates and fats in the food. Carbohydrates and fats provide energy to
sus-tain involuntary processes in the body for con-tinuous life, to carry out
voluntary activities like professional, household and recreational activities
and to convert food ingested into usa-ble nutrients in the body. The energy
needed is metabolized by oxidation of foods consumed.
Food Sources: Pulses, Legumes, meat, fish, poultry, egg, milk and milk products.
In our body there is continuous break-down of
old tissues and building up of new tissues going on at all ages irrespective of
the apparent growth thus maintaining a need for body building nutrients.
For the body building purpose, the major
nutrients are proteins and min-erals. Foods rich in protein are called body
building foods. Milk, meat, egg and fish are rich in proteins of high quality
due to the presence of essential amino acids. Pulses and nuts are good sources
of protein but the protein is not of good quality because they lack some of the
essential amino acids which are rich in cereals.
Food Sources: Vegetables and fruits.
These foods regulate the activities of the
body such as beating of the heart, main-tenance of body temperature, muscle
con-traction, control of water balance, clotting of blood, removal of waste
products from the body, etc.
Our body uses water in all its cells, organs
and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily
functions. Our body loses water through breathing, sweating and digestion, its
important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water.
Dietary fibers found mainly in fruits and
vegetables, wholegrains and legumes provide health benefits such as relieving
constipation, maintaining healthy weight and lowering the risk of diabetes and
heart diseases.
Apart from regulating our body processes, food
also protects us from vari-ous infections, diseases and injuries.
The second major function of food is
psy-chological function. Food also satisfies certain psychological needs of
human beings. Foods indirectly helps to provide a sense of security, love and
acceptance.
Every one grows in a particular culture with
its own unique food habits. The person begins to associate the food habits and
foods commonly consumed as it gives a sense of security and satiety. Even a
nutritionally balanced meal may not be satisfying to the individual, if food
included is unfamiliar or distasteful.
Food is also a symbol of social life. When a
meal is shared with anyone else, the acceptance of friendship and respect for
that person are expressed.
Earlier only persons enjoying equal status in
society ate together. A person would never share a meal with someone inferior
to him in social terms.
Food is a medium through which happiness is
expressed. For example feasts are given at specific states of life such as
birthday, marriage etc. Sweets are also distributed and exchanged to mark
cer-tain auspicious occasions like festivals. Such gatherings bring people
together and help to strengthen mutual friendship.
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