Food Source

After oxygen and water, food is the third most necessary thing for living beings to supply energy and development, to maintain life, or to drive growth. It is, in fact, one of the most difficult chemical groupings to comprehend. Food has an important part in maintaining good health and preventing sickness. It is made of vital elements such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals, and vitamins that are taken by an organism and digested by the organism's cells to maintain health. Grains, pulses, fruits, vegetables, oils, and other nutrient-dense foods are among them.

Food Sources 

Food is the source of life's energy. Humans cannot survive without food. As a result, it is critical for us to understand where our food originates from. Did you know that cake is composed entirely of plant-based ingredients? Let's learn more about food sources. A balanced diet is a necessity if one wants to lead a healthy life that involves different carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, fats and so on. But it is also essential to know that your balanced diet is maintained. It is important to know where they come from so that we can understand the different nutrients provided by that particular item of food.

The sources of food are divided into two major groups: Plants and animals are the two main sources of sustenance. All of the food we consume comes from one of these two sources. The processed foods we eat on a daily basis are made out of a variety of ingredients derived from either plants or animals. Let's look at both of them.

Food obtained from plants

Plants are a source of a wide variety of nutrients required to keep the human body in perfect working condition. Humans get everything from fruits, flowers, even the stem of some plants, leaves and stem-like lettuce, celery, roots of some plants like carrots, beetroot, and seeds like wheat, rice, etc. All the food that is consumed comes from plants, even the animals depend on plants. Hence, it can be concluded that we obtain food from plants directly or indirectly. The reason one is advised to consume fruits and vegetables on a daily basis is that it is a source of rich nutrients. 

Fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds; their derived processed counterparts like bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, cooked and fermented vegetables and legumes, and fruit purées, juices, and jams; and their derived ingredients like oleaginous seed-derived oils, sugars, and some herbs and spices are all examples of plant-based foods. Their fibre content, which is mostly cellulose, hemicellulose, pectins, and/or resistant starch, distinguishes them from animal-based meals.

Beans, cereals/pseudocereals, and nuts/seeds are grain products with significant carbohydrate, protein, and fat content. Plant-based diets contain macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbs), micronutrients (minerals, trace elements, and vitamins), and phytonutrients in addition to fibre (e.g., polyphenols and carotenoids). Each one aids the plant's survival and reproduction in its natural environment. Vegetables, coffee, cereals, pulses, fruits, sugar, spices, oil, etc. can be obtained from plants. Let's have a look at the different types of plant’s food sources.

• Vegetables

Vegetables are obtained from plants. Some nutrient-rich vegetables such as beetroot, turnip, spinach, cauliflower, etc. are obtained from plants. The roots, leaves, and stems of some plants are edible. People who consume more vegetables and fruits as part of a healthy diet are less prone to developing chronic diseases. Vegetables supply essential nutrients for your body's health and upkeep.

• Roots

Roots were frequently harvested and prepared for use in the winter. When other food sources were scarce, roots were cooked and used as a food source. Roots were also utilised to treat a variety of ailments, such as sore throats, poison ivy rashes, and heart trouble. Radish, turnip, carrot, and beetroot are some of the roots that are eaten as vegetables.

• Stem

There are a few things to look for when determining whether or not a vegetable stem is edible, and we deal with edible vegetable stems on a regular basis. Asparagus, Celery Rhubarb, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Bamboo shoots, Brussels sprouts, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Garlic leeks and Green onions, Potato and ginger are the stems that are eaten as vegetables.

• Leaves

Leaf vegetables, often known as salad greens, pot herbs, vegetable greens, or just greens, are plant leaves that are eaten as a vegetable, sometimes with fragile petioles and stems.  Leafy vegetables are high in protein per calorie, dietary fibre, vitamin C, provitamin A carotenoids, folate, manganese, and vitamin K, and are often low in calories and fat. Spinach, cabbage, Collard Greens, Beet Greens, Watercress, Romaine lettuce are the leaves eaten as vegetables.

• Flowers

The work discusses the nutritional and sensory value of edible flowers from ornamental plants, as well as their quality, sources, and ingestion. The value of edible flowers from ornamental plants is also assessed in terms of their possible health benefits. It primarily focuses on the impact of colour, odour, and flavour components on antioxidant activity, reactive oxygen radical scavenging action, and cancer prevention. Broccoli and cauliflower are flowers eaten in the form of vegetables. 

• Fruits

Fruits are a perfect example of a healthy source from plants. We get fruits like oranges, mango, apples and other fruits consumed by humans. A plant's fruit is its sweet, fleshy, edible portion. Seeds are usually present. Fruits are typically consumed fresh, but some varieties can be cooked. Colours, shapes, and flavours abound. Your daily fruit intake is determined by your age, height, weight, and level of physical activity. 

• Cereals

Cereals include rice, wheat, maize, jowar, barley, etc. These are a rich source of nutrients provided by the plants. A cereal is any grass that has been cultivated (raised) for the edible components of its grain (botanically, a sort of fruit known as a caryopsis), which are made up of endosperm, germ, and bran. The phrase can also refer to the grain produced as a result of the process (specifically "cereal grain"). Cereal grain crops are stapled crops because they are grown in bigger quantities and supply more food energy than any other form of crop. Pseudocereals are edible grains from other plant families, such as buckwheat, quinoa, and chia.

• Tea and Coffee

Coffee and tea are widely grown in the southern parts of India. These are also obtained from the plants. Not just these, sugar is also obtained from the plants. It is processed from the sugarcane plant. Choline, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and manganese are minerals found in coffee that aid in hydration and neurological system regulation. Green tea has a similar nutritional profile as black tea, but the vitamins and minerals in green tea differ depending on when it is picked. Flavonols, quercetin, and catechins are among the polyphenols found in green tea.

• Oils

Oil can be extracted from the seeds and leaves of the plants. Some of the plants producing oil are castor, mustard, and sunflower. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are abundant in most oils, but saturated fats are in short supply. Mayonnaise, several salad dressings, and soft (tub or squeeze) margarine are examples of foods made primarily of oil.

• Spices

Spices and herbs are plant parts that are grown for their fragrant, spicy, or other desirable properties. Rhizomes, bulbs, barks, flower buds, stigmas, fruits, seeds, and leaves are all used in the preparation of spices and herbs. Spices, spice seeds, and herbs are the most common classifications.  Cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, clove, cumin seeds, and ginger are obtained from the plants and used for cooking purposes.

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Food obtained from Animals

Human beings use animal products as a protein source directly or indirectly. Eggs, meats, milk and other products are directly used by the animals. Bees create honey, a reduced nectar from flowers that are a favourite sweetener in many cultures, and birds and other animals lay eggs, which are often consumed.

Animal products are a rich source of nutrients. The food chain is made up of exactly these animals starting with organisms that use the energy of the sun to the end by which the organisms are predators and rely on producers. 

Let's have a look at the different types of animal products consumed for their nutritional benefits.

• Milk

Cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and camels are great sources of milk. Milk is also called an ideal food. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Milk is also used to make other products such as curd, butter, ghee, paneer and cheese, which are referred to as milk products.

• Eggs

Chickens, ducks, geese, and quails are raised for eggs and meat. The egg is a rich source of protein and vitamins. The yolk of the egg is mostly made up of fats, proteins, and essential nutrients. Egg also contains vitamins, phosphorus, calcium and iron.

• Meat

Meat is of two types- red meat and white meat. The meat of cows, goats, sheep and pigs has a lot of fat and is called red meat. White meat contains less fat and is obtained from chicken and fish. White meat is healthier and can be easily digested as compared to red meat. Meat is rich in proteins, vitamins, zinc, phosphorus and iron.

• Honey

Apiculture is the practice of raising bees and maintaining honeybee colonies for the production of honey. It is the most advantageous and environmentally friendly activity. Honey bees are the best pollinators of crops, therefore this is beneficial not just for honey but also for crop pollination. Apis dorsata, Apis indica, and Apis florea are the species that are available in India.

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Seafood is another dietary source. We collect fish as well as other sea creatures such as crabs, lobsters, and oysters. Humans consume them as well, and they are a significant food source in coastal areas.

Food is a crucial component in the development of the human body.

Because the Almighty God has created numerous foods that include crucial and necessary nutrients for the construction of cells and bodily tissues, the body requires a certain amount of food to obtain energy. A human body needs food to perform a variety of tasks, including bodybuilding, growth, and development, as well as to combat viruses and diseases.