Components of Food (Class VI)

Roughage (dietary fibre) is provided by all plant products like fruits, pulses, vegetables, etc. It acts as food for animals, helps us in getting rid of the undigested food from the body and keeps our skin healthy. 

Roughage (dietary fibers) is provided by all plant products like fruits, pulses, vegetables, etc. It acts as food for animals; helps us in getting rid of the undigested food from the body and keeps our skin healthy.

Wheat, rice, potato and sweet potato are sources of carbohydrates. But rice contains the highest level of starch and is the richest source of carbohydrates.

Food is required by our body for its growth and proper functioning. It also provides us energy. Oxygen is not made from food.

The diet, which contains all the nutrients in proper proportion, is called a balanced diet. 

To maintain the nutrient content of the body for optimal growth, one should eat a balanced diet. A balanced diet basically includes 5 major nutrients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Also, water and dietary fibres make a part of our diet, but water is not included in nutrients.

Deficiency of any nutrient in the body causes malfunctioning. Example: Rickets is a disease caused by the deficiency of vitamin D in our body and results in bow-shaped legs. 

Our teeth and bones are basically formed from the compounds of calcium, the deficiency of which leads to their decay. 

The presence of any nutrient can be tested and confirmed by particular tests. Example: The presence of proteins can be tested by using copper sulphate and caustic soda. Oily patch on paper when a food product is kept over it, confirms the presence of fats. The addition of iodine turns the starchy food to blue-black.

To test the presence of proteins in any substance, 2 drops of copper sulphate followed by 10 drops of caustic soda are added. If the colour of the solution does not change, it means proteins are absent. If the colour changes from white to violet, it confirms the presence of proteins. Milk, egg and pulses give a positive test for proteins. So, the chemicals used are caustic soda and copper sulphate.

The lack or the excess of anything is harmful, e.g. lack of fat lowers the body energy and intake of excess fat results in obesity.

Fruits and vegetables are major source of vitamins and minerals. Washing and peeling more than required, results in the loss of these two nutrients from them. 

Vitamin C can not tolerate high temperature and gets destroyed on over heating. 

Deficiency of proteins in the diet for a long time results in swelling of the face, swollen neck, undergrowth of the body, etc. This is because proteins are the building blocks of the body and should be taken in sufficient amounts.

Deficiency of proteins in the diet causes diarrhoea.

Goiter is a disease in which the thyroid gland in our body doesn’t work properly. This happens due to low intake of iodine in the diet.

A person who does not take proteins and carbohydrates in his diet for long may become so lean and thin that he will not be able to walk properly and his growth may also stop completely. This is because these two are the major nutrients for our body.

Generally, eye diseases are caused by the deficiency of vitamin A in the diet. Night blindness is also an eye/vision disease. So, it is also caused by the deficiency of vitamin A.

Lack of any nutrient in the body causes one or another disease in the body. Scurvy is the disease which is prevented by the intake of citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, etc.

Scurvy results due to the lack of vitamin C and is basically symptomised when our gums start bleeding. 

Carbohydrates and fats are the energy-providing foods and proteins are the basic building blocks of the body. Vitamin D also helps in maintaining the calcium requirements of the body. So, the deficiency of vitamin D and calcium in the body causes bones and tooth decay.

Anaemia refers to low hemoglobin/blood level in the body, which occurs when we do not take enough iron in our diet as iron forms haemoglobin, which is a major component of our blood. 

Vitamin C helps body in fighting against infection and also in healing wounds. 

Goitre is characterised by swollen neck. It is caused due to the deficiency of iodine in the diet.

Goitre – Swollen neck glands
Scurvy – Bleeding gums
Rickets – Bow-shaped legs
Beriberi – Weak muscles and laziness 

High temperature cooking for longer duration results in the destruction of vitamin C, protein and mineral content in the food. Use of less water and cooking for shorter duration will result in preserving the protein and mineral content of the food. 

The leaves of mustard are used as vegetable. So, it is the leaves which are the edible parts of mustard plant. 

Deficiency of vitamin D – Rickets
Deficiency of vitamin C – Scurvy
Deficiency of vitamin B – Beri-beri
Deficiency of vitamin A – Nightblindness

Cucumber, tomato and brinjal are fruits, used as food, whereas it is the roots of the turnip plant which are used as food product. 

Different parts of different plants are used to obtain food products. Such as seeds of mustard give oil, stem of sugarcane is processed to get sugar, leaves of mint and spinach are used directly.