Food – Nutritional Value and Cooking Techniques
In the human body, food is any material taken from the environment that is used to provide nutrition to an organisms. Food is generally of animal, plant or fungi origin, and consists of various nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals. A wide variety of foods are available on earth, from plant leaves, fruits, roots, stems, mushrooms, nuts, seeds, roots and other parts. Food is prepared in many ways to include a variety of ingredients to make it nutritious and delicious.
The main dietary fiber found in vegetables and other fruits are simple sugars. These carbohydrates give the food its sweet taste and are commonly referred to as sweeteners. Carbohydrates are found in foods such as pasta, rice, cereals, bread, potatoes and fruits such as bananas, grapes and apples. Some carbohydrates such as pasta have more volume and therefore offer more energy to a food than others do. Therefore, it is important to choose carbohydrates wisely when trying to create a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight.
Some foods are cooked in order to add flavor and sometimes, in order to add texture and make it more appealing to eat. While some foods are eaten raw, most other foods are prepared by steaming or boiling in water, as well as adding spices, butter and milk to improve the flavor. When it comes to cooking, the choice is sometimes personal, depending on whether you like to eat it plain or with a dip. It is important not to under cook foods that contain carbohydrates to prevent spikes in blood sugar.
Diet is very individualized and each person has their own unique set of requirements and preferences. Meats and food items come in many different cuts, sizes, shapes and colors, which gives a lot of opportunities to experiment with diet menus. When trying to create a diet menu, take into consideration your nutritional needs and your budget. You can purchase foods at the supermarket or health food store, but sometimes, specialty foods and ingredients are more expensive.
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for our bodies, but they also provide many of the necessary nutrients our bodies need to maintain a healthy balance of nutrients and maintain a healthy body weight. When shopping for foods that provide carbohydrates, look for the words “whole grain,” or “enriched,” even “low-glycemic,” to identify foods that are good sources of carbohydrates. For example, oats, rice, bran, corn, bulgur, and other whole grains provide B vitamins and calcium. When shopping for carbohydrates, remember that complex carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice cakes, brown rice, sweet potatoes and sweet breads usually have a high level of starch.
Vegetables are another important part of a healthy diet and many of them provide even more nutrients than vegetables do. Legumes, peas, beans, mushrooms, spinach, carrots, squash, green and red peppers, cabbage and other leafy greens are rich in antioxidants that are good for your heart and liver. By removing the harmful chemicals and preservatives found in commercially processed foods, you can make sure that you are getting true, natural, whole foods. There are tons of ways to make your food choices good for you, so do not limit yourself when it comes to your food choices.