The word “food” can have two different meanings. One use of the word refers to the products of living organisms, while the other use of the word refers to the substances which are produced by these living organisms. Most people believe that food refers to the edible parts of an animal or plant. However, food is also any material eaten to provide an organism with nutrition. In this sense, food is generally of animal, plant or even fungal origin, and has necessary nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, fat, or iron.
The process of digestion of foods releases the nutrients from foods, resulting in the release of energy from the food into the blood stream. Blood cannot survive without nutrients; therefore, the digestive system must break down the food to release all nutrients into the bloodstream. This process of digestion is a life process within the human body. Therefore, to stay healthy, one must eat a well-balanced diet which provides a variety of foods from different food groups.
Diets which do not provide dietary fibre and other nutrients may cause the breakdown of muscle tissue leading to weakness, premature aging, and other diseases. These diets may also lead to obesity, high blood pressure, tooth decay, heart disease, cancer, and other health problems. The best way to eat is a combination of a wide variety of foods from different food groups which provide different types of nutrients and minerals in their various forms, including soluble fibre, whole grain foods, and natural, unsweetened and low-fat dairy products. This dietary approach provides a variety of nutrients needed to keep you healthy and strong.