Let's Eat

Food supplies raw materials for growth and repair,as well as the energy to make cells work (basically it's the fuel that your body runs on).  Without it, your body will shut down and you would die. Yet most of the mouthwatering and nourishing foods passing our lips are that which are quite useless as far as the body is concerned.  The simple substances it needs remain locked inside sandwiches, eggs, melons, and sushi until the digestive system goes to work and its "disassemble line" breaking down the complex foods to release the nutrients and minerals.  For most of us, what happens to food inside the body once we chow downed a meal has been consumed is something of a mystery. But, as with so many aspects of the human body, this is one of the most important foundations that we should all know and understand.... NUTRITION! Nutrients are the substances in food that maintain the body and make it work. Most of what we eat is made up of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Nutrients needed in smaller amounts , but still vital, are vitamins and minerals. Our diet should comprise a mix of foods that supply all necessary nutrients in the right amount. Vitamins and Minerals: Only needed in tiny amounts, vitamins ans minerals are nonetheless essential for growth and food health. Most vitamins come from pHresh fruits and vegetables. Minerals, such as calcium and iron, also help the body perform optimally. Fats: Dairy food, meat, seeds, and nuts all supply fats, as do vegetables. Fat is digested into fatty acids which are used as an energy source and to make cell membranes. Or they are rebuilt into fat that, under the skin, insulates the body and helps to keep us warm, but hopefully not to warm. Proteins: Rich sources of proteins are fish, lean meat, poultry, beans and even vegetables. Once digested, proteins suppl the body with amino acids. These building blocks are reassembled by cells into different proteins used for construction, as enzymes, and a myriad of other roles. Carbohydrates: Complex carbohydrates, particularly starch, are found in foods such as pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, and cereals. During digestion starch is broken down to the simple sugar glucose, the body's main source of energy. Fiber: This  collection of stringy, indigestible substances is found in plant foods such as vegetables, cereal grasses, beans, and bananas. It cleans the intestines, making them more efficient so they can absorb more nutrients and vitamins and push unwanted waste out the of body even more quickly. Water: Most of our body is comprised of water. It provides the liquid medium in which substances dissolve and react inside cells, not to mention the basis of our internal transport systems (blood & lymph).  

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