What is food? Food is any substance ingested to give nutrition to an organism. It is the sustenance of all living things. In the human body, food is composed of energy obtained from the food substances and the energy required by the cells to function. Generally, food is of animal, plant or fungi origin, and has essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, proteins, or carbohydrates.
The food eaten by people comes in various forms: it can be in the form of whole food or in the form of a combination of inedible and digestible parts such as meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and legumes. Whole foods generally provide the necessary nutrients to keep the human body and its systems in a healthy condition; whereas inedible parts, or those that are not digestible, are the ones responsible for the loss of these nutrients. Digestive disorders can result when these inedible parts are not properly digested and absorbed by the body. Animal foods are rich in protein, whereas plant foods, being rich in carbohydrate, are the source of energy for the cell that uses carbohydrates as energy.
There are different types of food, and different types of people. Vegetarians, persons suffering from cancer, diabetes and heart diseases, pregnant women, children, old people, athletes, people with inadequate physical activity, individuals with certain chronic conditions need to follow a special diet to remain healthy and fit. Foods contain different types of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Vegetable oils, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, seaweeds, milk, cheese, eggs and other dairy products are included in the diet.