Three Food Groups – A Healthy Way To Live
Food is any material consumed to supply nutrition to an organism. In most cases food is of vegetable, animal or fungus origin, and has all necessary nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals. The nourishment required by an organism comes mainly from the diet it has chosen for itself. A person therefore needs food to survive and grow; without food an organism cannot survive.
Plants are the main food source of animals, with plant products making up nearly seventy percent of the human diet. Animal products include milk, meat, eggs, fish, poultry and other animal products, such as fur and skins. Plants, whether for human consumption or for use in making food, are categorized as vegetarians foods, with the highest levels being in milk and cheese and fats and oils, while fruits, vegetables, grains and seeds make up the lower level of vegetarians foods.
As far as nutrition and diet are concerned, not many people meet the recommended daily intake of nutrients because they do not eat enough fresh vegetables and fruits. They also tend to depend on sugary foods, which provide little nutrition. Vegetarians are therefore advised to increase the levels of intake of fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts. While some people do not see food as a necessity, if they do not take adequate food in their diet, they could suffer from malnutrition, which can lead to serious health problems, even leading to death.
A vegetarian diet requires certain foods, like nuts and seeds, that cannot be found in plant food. A good example of these are peanuts, which cannot be found in any nut store. Another type of food that cannot be found in most plant foods but plays an important role in the diet of vegetarians is vitamin B12, found in fortified milk and some types of vitamin B supplements. Milk contains casein, a form of vitamin B that is difficult for the body to digest, so vegetarians may take a supplement of vitamin B12. Some foods that are rich in vitamin B include whole grain breads and cereals, carrots, spinach and certain types of beans.
Fruits and vegetables should be eaten regularly as part of a healthy diet. For those that cannot eat fresh fruits or vegetables, frozen fruits and juices are an alternative. Although they are low in nutritional value, they do have a number of other benefits. When they are eaten regularly, they help to maintain a balance of electrolytes in the body, especially when they are eaten at regular intervals throughout the day. When they are eaten along with water, they help to detoxify the body by flushing toxins from the digestive tract and the rest of the body.
By following the advice in this article you will soon start to see changes in your eating habits. You will begin to see that most of the food that you consume has a place in whole plants, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. The knowledge that food in its most natural state can promote health, vitality and good health is not commonly known by the majority of people in the Western world. Begin to learn more about how food benefits our bodies by considering the three food groups listed above and how each food group can contribute to your daily intake of nutrients.