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What is food and why we need it?

Food serves as a source of nutrients food: These are materials that provides the components necessary to build tissues, to repair tissues as they wear out and die, to keep the body in good working condition, and to supply fuel for energy and growth. Food is any solid substance that is used as a source of nourishment for people or animals, especially in solid as opposed to liquid form. 

Food tastes good to the taste buds and it is enjoyable. Beside this known fact humans requires food basically for three purposes:

Energy: We need energy (this is measured in calories) to perform external work and to allow organs such as the heart, lungs, and others to function optimally.



Building Blocks: Raw materials for example proteins, most minerals used to manufacture blood, skin, bones, hair and internal organs; the human body is constantly replacing and renewing every cell on a daily bases.

Catalysts: Chemical compounds for example vitamins, enzymes and some minerals) necessary to facilitates the chemical reactions that convert food into energy and into bodily organs.

Human beings require food for energy every few hours and require specific foods that function as building blocks and catalysts on a daily. Our bodies are biologically programmed to immediately recognise when energy is needed in the body, we also experience hunger pain.

How our bodies process food into energy and living matter. 
All of our food consists of one or more of these nutrients: 



• Water
• Carbohydrates (contained in sugar, bread, etc)

• Lipids (contained in fats, oils, etc)

• Proteins (contained in meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, etc)

• Vitamins (contained in fruits, vegetables, etc)


• Minerals (contained in fruits, vegetables, etc)
• Essential amino acid
• Iron


• Phytochemicals, including anti-oxidants, enzymes, bio-flavinoids

What happens is that when food is taken in the process of digestion begins immediately it enters the mouth and starts being broken down by your teeth and the enzymes in your saliva. Then chemicals in your stomach go to work digesting the food into its various nutrient categories.

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