Food – What is It? How to Get the Right Nutrition

Food is any material consumed to provide nutrition to an organism in a non-digestible manner. Normally, food is of animal, plant or even fungi origin, and includes essential nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, or even minerals. The human body needs the right combination of food to keep it going and healthy. One type of food that is vital to humans is food that provides complete protein, a nutrient that helps to build and repair muscles, bones and tissues. Carbohydrates, like glucose, are fuel for the body, but too much of it can cause obesity. In other words, in order to maintain a healthy weight, people need a wide variety of food from which they can select and choose their favorites.

There are six recognized food groups. These food groups include vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meat, fish, poultry and nuts. Each group has specific vitamins and nutrients that it provides. Based on Ayurvedic principles, food is classified into three main food groups: animal-derived foods (prices), plant-derived foods (nutrients), and fungi-based foods (fungi). Based on traditional medicinal approaches, foods in one or more of these food groups should be a part of the diet, and not eliminated.

Some of the health problems that are linked with specific food groups are obesity, Type II diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, certain cancers, sleep disorders and allergic reactions to some animal products. To prevent getting too much fat, eat foods low in fats and oils, including coconut oil, avocado, raw nuts, seeds and meat. Oily foods, fats and processed sugars are also bad choices. Omnivores, or those who eat meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products without getting too much of the other food groups, are considered healthy and to be less prone to diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Type II diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. If you are an omnivore and wish to achieve a healthy body, it is important to balance your diet.