Food – The Secret Weapon

The primary purpose of food is to provide the nutrients needed to sustain life. Food is generally of animal, plant or microbial origin, and has necessary nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, or other minerals. During the process of eating food, energy is used to break it down and provide the nutrients to the body that the food needs. This process of digestion is known as digestion, and the calories provided by food are called macronutrients.

The majority of people live unhealthy lives because they do not eat enough of the right kinds of food, which do not provide the nutrients they need, in sufficient quantities. The consumption of food rich in fat, sugar, salt or other additives is not beneficial to most people, as the lack of these micronutrients depletes the body of its ability to absorb them. This deficiency disease or “food deficiency” is more common in developed countries, where processed foods, refined sugars, heavily packaged and fortified beverages, and other food substances have been the main staple of the diet for years. In such countries, a diet deficient in macronutrients can lead to obesity, chronic diseases, poor health, and stunted growth. This situation can lead to other more serious problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, cancer, and other chronic illnesses. The micronutrients must be consumed in large quantities to compensate for the lack of those substances in the diet.

The main source of these micronutrients are the vegetables and fruits that constitute the bulk of the human diet. The vegetables provide a variety of essential nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and other micronutrients, while the fruits provide a wide range of fruits containing various types of antioxidants, which are important to the body’s immune system. Both the vegetables and fruits should be eaten in generous portions, with each serving having about the same amount of calories, so that the balance between the number of calories consumed and the calories expended is maintained. A well balanced diet needs a broad variety of foods, with the vegetable and fruit being included in many of the meals. To get the daily recommended allowance of micronutrients, it is necessary to eat at least six servings of fruits and vegetables per day, along with whole grains, cereal, legumes, and whole dairy products, oil, fish, poultry, and lean meats.