6th Class Science Food: Where Does It Come From? Balanced Food

        Balanced Food

 

Balanced food is essential for us. All living organism obtain their energy from the food they take. Therefore, our food should contain all necessary nutrients, that is, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats, proteins, roughage, water and minerals. Carbohydrates and fats are energy giving food, proteins are body building food and vitamins and minerals are protective food. Requirement of energy in kilocalories depends on age and working habit.

 

Read the Following about the Energy Requirements

 

Age	Daily energy requirement in kilo joule
Up to 8 years	2000 KJ to 9000 KJ
8 to 15 years	9600 KJ to 12600 KJ
Adult	9600 KJ to 20000 KJ
Pregnant and nursing mothers	10000 KJ to 11300 KJ

 

Let us study the nutrients contained by food in detail.  

 

          Carbohydrates

This is the organic compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The source of energy in our body are carbohydrates and fats. One gram of carbohydrate produces one kilocalories of heat energy. The rich sources of carbohydrates are rice, potato, bread, wheat etc.

               

Look at the following table:

 

Sources of carbohydrates

Wheat flour

Rice

Jowar

Honey

Beans

Green Gram

Banana

 

 

         Vitamins

Vitamins are organic compound and these are the very important part of human food. The human body requires small amount of vitamins. They protect us from various diseases and repair the damaged cells and tissues. Vitamins have been classified into two groups, fat soluble vitamins and water soluble vitamins.

Vitamins A, D, E and K are known as fat soluble vitamins, while vitamins C and eight of vitamin B complex are known as water soluble vitamins.

 

	Thiamin
	Riboflavin
	Niacin
	Pyridoxine
	Pantothenic acid, biotin, folate and cobalamin

 

 

          Vitamin A

Vitamin A is the most important part of our daily food. It protects our eyes and gives nutrition for clear vision. The purest form of vitamin A is Retinol. Retinols are stored inside the liver. A healthy body required 600 - 700 microgram of vitamin A per day.

Some Rich Sources of Vitamin A are as Follows

 

Foods

Carrots (raw)

Sweet potato

Mango

Butter

Ghee

Cheese

Eggs

 

 

         Vitamin C

The chemical name of vitamin C is ascorbic acid and this is a water soluble element. The function of whole body depends on enzymes. Vitamin C gives nutrients to enzyme producing organs. It repairs tissues and strengthens blood vessels. It cannot be stored inside the body therefore, our daily diet should contain vitamin C.

Scurvy is the most common disease caused by deficiency of vitamin C. Deficiency of vitamin C breaks down the blood vessels and causes bleeding.

               

Read the following Sources of Vitamin C

 

Foods

Guava

Strawberry

Lemon

Orange

Cauliflower

Tomato

Potato

 

 

          Vitamin D

Vitamin D is fat soluble element. Deficiency of vitamin D causes improper growth of teeth and bones. Therefore, broken bones cannot be repaired due to lack of vitamin D. The sources of vitamin D are milk, eggs, fish and mushrooms etc. A rich source of vitamin D is Sun.

 

          Vitamin E

It performs various functions in the human body ,therefore, it is also an important part of our diet. Vitamin E protects nutrients from being damaged by oxygen and hence called anti oxidants.

 

Read the Following Sources of Vitamin E

 

Foods

Sunflower Oil

Almond

Popcorn

Sweet Potato

 

 

         Vitamin K

Vitamin K is the fat soluble element. It is stored in the fats of the human body. Vitamin K is normally produced by the bacteria in the large intestine of the human body. ft is used to make other proteins needed for healthy bones and tissues. It is also helpful for normal blood clotting. The recommended daily amount is 70 micrograms in men and 65 micrograms in women

  

Read the following sources of vitamin K

 

Foods

Cauliflower

Tomato

Cabbage

String Beans

 

 

         Vitamin B Complex (B₁₂)

Vitamin B complex is the water soluble element and therefore, it cannot be stored inside the human body. Vitamin B performs various functions inside the J human body. It repairs tissues and cells, also supports and increases the rate of metabolism. Vitamin B is responsible for the healthy skin, immune and nerves system of human.

 

Followings are the deficiency effects of vitamin B complex

 

Vitamins and its name	Deficiency Effects (Disease)
Vitamin  (Thiamin)	Beriberi
Vitamin  (Riboflavin)	Ariboflavinosis
Vitamin  (Niacin)	Pellagra
Vitamin  (Pyridoxine)	Anemia
Vitamin  (Pantothenic acid, biotin, folate and cobalamin)	Anemia

 

 

          Sources of Vitamin B Complex

All eatable substances contain less or large amount of vitamin B complex. Some food items largely contains vitamins B complex. These food items are fish, fruits, vegetables etc.

 

          Fats

Fats are the compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. These are necessary for our body. But the excess amount of fats is not utilized and is stored under skin and around other body organs. The rich sources of fats are oily foods, like ghee, vegetables oil etc.

 

         

• Proteins

Proteins are one of the most important elements that are necessary for the growth of the cells. Developing children require more amount of proteins. For the replacement of cells and tissues also, proteins are required. Proteins have big role in fighting with various harmful bacteria. In the human body proteins break down into a substance called amino acid. The rich sources of proteins are both plants and animals. But the food obtained from animals contains more protein than that of plant. A small child requires two grams of protein per day. A healthy man requires 100 grams of proteins per day. The requirement of proteins depends on the weight of the body. The proteins are categorized into two groups, that is, plant protein and animal protein.

 

Read the following sources of proteins

Foods

Milk

Soya

Eggs

Fish

 

           Minerals

Minerals are the inorganic compound and very necessary for human beings. The sources of minerals are the green vegetables, milk, eggs, and fruits.  Minerals provide iron for hemoglobin formation, an important component of blood. There are fifteen kinds of minerals, which human require for healthy body. Calcium and phosphorous provide nutrition to bones and teeth. Some minerals, which are most required by human body, are called major minerals more than 100 mg/day) .And those minerals, which human body require less than 100 mg/day) are called minor minerals or trace elements.

The major minerals are calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and sulphur. Minor minerals or trace elements are iron, iodine, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, cobalt, selenium and fluoride.

The deficiency of minerals is due to too much eating or less eating of same things. For example, too much drinking, smoking, etc. are the common cause of mineral deficiency in human body.

 

Read the following sources of minerals

Minerals	Sources
Calcium	Pulses, Sesame Seeds
Iron	Beans Green Vegetable
Magnesium	Milk, Banana, Rice
Zinc	Rice, Bread, Meat
Selenium	Green Vegetables, Milk, Chicken
Potassium	Potatoes, Banana, Green Leaves Vegetable

 

 

              Roughage

The outer part of fruits contains roughage. Sources of roughage are plants and plant products. It helps in moving the food through elementary canal. As a result better digestion of food takes place. Constipation is due to the deficiency of roughage.

 

             Water

The human body contains 70% water by weight. Water transports minerals within the body. It helps in controlling the body temperature and improves digestive system.

 

 

 

 

     Which one of the following is broken down into amino acid in the digestive system of the human body?

(a) Vitamins

(b) Minerals

(c) Fibers

(d) Proteins

(e) None of these

 

Answer: (d)

 

 

     The names of the vitamins are given below. Which one of the following options is correct about the categorization of vitamins as water and fat soluble elements?

Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K

(a) Water soluble vitamins - Vitamin B, Vitamin C Fat soluble vitamins - Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K.

(b) Water soluble vitamins - Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K Fat soluble vitamins - Vitamins B, Vitamins C

(c) Water soluble vitamins - Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin C Fat soluble vitamins - Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin K

(d) Fat soluble vitamins - Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C Water soluble vitamins - Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K

(e) None of these

 

Answer: (a)

 

 

Photosynthesis process is involved in autotrophic mode of nutrition.

Plant makes glucose or sugar during the photosynthesis.

Plant absorbs carbon dioxide and solar energy through leaves.

Most part of food is absorbed in small intestine.

A liquid secretes by liver is called bile.