Nutrition and Balanced Diet

Nutrition and Balanced Diet

To maintain the life organisms performs some basic function is called nutrition. Nutrition is one of the basic function of life in which intake of food, digestion, absorption, assimilation and egestion of undigested foods are included.

Nutrient

Nutrients are the substance by which an organism get energy or it is used for biosynthesis of its body.

For example carbohydrate and fat are the source of energy. Whereas proteins and minerals are the nutrient used for biosyntheses.

1. Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are organic compounds in which the ratio of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen is 1 : 2 : 1. Carbohydrate in the form of sugar and starch are major intake in animals and human. 50 to 75% energy is obtained by oxidation of carbohydrate.

Carbohydrate containing aldehyde group is called aldose and with ketone group is called ketose. Carbohydrates are derivatives of polyhydroxy alcohols.

Classification of Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are classifies into three major group.

(a) Monosaccharides

These are the simple sugar made up of single polyhydroxy or ketone unit. Most abundant monosaccharide found in nature is glucose containing six carbon atom. Triose, tetrose, pentoses, heptoses are the type of monosaccharide.

• Glucose is a type of hexose sugar.

• The sweetest sugar is fructose.

(b) Oligosaccharides

When 2 to 10 monosaccharide join together they form oligosaccharides. They are usually crystalline in nature and sweet n test. Maltose, sucrose, lactose are disaccharides made up of two monosaccharide.

(c) Polysaccharides

These are the compound of sugar which are formed due to joining large number of monosaccharide. These are insoluble and tasteless. Some example of polysaccharides are starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin etc.

Function of Carbohydrate

Carbohydrate is used as fuel. During the process of respiration, glucose break into CO2 and H2O with the release of energy. One gram of glucose given 4.2 kilo calories energy.

• Glucose is the source of immediate energy production in the cell.

• Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleosides and nucleotides containing pentose sugar.

• Lactose of milk is formed from glucose and glactose.

• Glucose is used for the formation of fat and amino acid.

• Carbon skeleton of monosaccharide is used in the formation of fatty acid, chitin, cellulose etc.

Source of Carbohydrate

• Wheat, rice, maize, sweet potato, potato and other plant and animals are the sources of carbon carbohydrate.

2. Protein

Protein word was first used by J. Berzelius. This is a complex organic compound made up of 20 type of amino acids. Approximately 16% of the human body is made up of protein in addition to C, H & O.

Nitrogen is essential for protein syntheses.

Twenty types of amino acid are necessary for human body, out of which 12 are synthesized by body itself and remaining 8 are obtained food are called essential amino acid.

Types of Proteins

On the basis of chemical compositionIt is divided into three types.

1. Simple Protein

• It consists of only amino acid.

Example: Albumins, Globulis, Histones etc.

2. Conjugated Protein

• Having some another chemical compounds in addition to amino acid.

Example: Chromo protein, Glyco protein etc.

3. Derived Protein

• It is derived from the partial digestion of natural protein or its hydrolysis.

Example: Peptone, Peptide, Proteinase etc.

Note:

• Animal protein is called first class protein because it contain all the essential amino acid. Egg contains all essential amino acids.

Function of Protein

• It takes part in the formation of cells, protoplasm and tissue.

• These are important for physical growth. Physical growth hampers by its deficiency. Lack of proteins causes Kwashiorkor and Marasmusdiseases in children.

• In case of necessity protein provide energy to the body.

• If control the development of genetic characters.

• Helpful in conduction also.

Protein Deficiency Diseases

• Kwashiorkor: In this disease hands and legs of children get slimmed and the stomach comes out, caused by deficiency of protein diet.

• Marasmus: In these disease muscles of children are loosened caused by protein deficiency.

Note:

• Biological catalysts are protein molecule known as enzyme which speed up as chemical reaction remain unchanged after reaction optimaly function at 37°C.

• Human nails are made up of protein keratin.

• Soyabeans is the richest source of protein.

• Keratin is the protein which protects the epithelial cell from damage.

3. Fat

Fat is an ester of glycerol and fatty acid. Infact carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are present in different quantities, but proportionally less oxygen than carbohydrate.

Normally fat remains as solid at 20°C temperature, but if it is in liquid form at this temperature, this is called oil.

Types of Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are of two types – Saturated and unsaturated.

• Unsaturated fatty acids are found in fish oil and vegetable oil.

• Only coconut oil and palm oil are the examples of saturated oil.

Energy from Fat

• 9.3 kilo calorie energy is liberated from 1 gram fat.

• Normally an adult person should get 20-30% of energy from fat. Fat store maximum energy per gram.

Main Functions of Fat

• It provides energy to the body.

• It remains under the skin and prevents the loss of heat from the body.

• It makes the food material testy.

• It protects different parts of the body from injury.

• Due to lack of fat skin get dried, weight of the body decreases and development of the body checked.

• Due to the excessiveness of fat the body gets fatty, heart disease takes place and blood pressure increases.

Rancidity is defined as oxidation of fat and oils that change the taste and smell of food.

4. Vitamins

Vitamin was invented by Sir F.G. Hopkins The term vitamin was coined by Funk.

Vitamins are organic compound required in minute quantities. No calorie is obtained from it, but it is very important in regulating chemical reactions in metabolism of the body.

Types of Vitamins (Based on Solubility)

(a) Vitamin soluble in water: Vitamin-B and Vitamin-C.

(b) Vitamin soluble in fat: Vitamin-A, Vitamin-D, Vitamin-E and Vitamin-K.

The Diseases Caused by Deficiency of Vitamins and Their Sources

Note:

• Cobalt is found in Vitamin-B12.

• Syntheses of vitamins cannot be done by the cells of body. It is fulfilled by the vitamin containing food.

• However, syntheses of Vitamin-D and K takes place in our body.

• Bleeding gum, falling of teeth, fragile bones and delayed wound healing occur due to deficiency of Vitamin C.

• Deficiency of calcium mainly occur in absence of vitamin ‘D’.

• Synthesis of Vitamin-D takes place by the ultra violet rays present in the sunlight through cholesterol (ergosterol) of skin. Vitamin D2 is known as ergocalciferol.

• Vitamin-K is synthesized in our colon by the bacteria and from there it is absorbed.

• Vitamin-A is mainly stored in liver.

• Use of polished rice in human diet cause Beriberi.

• Most of the vitamins are not synthesized in human body.

• Amla is the richest source of vitamin C.

5. Minerals

Mineral is a homogenous inorganic material needed for body which control the metabolism of body.

Important Minerals and Their Function

Note:

• Deficiency of fluoride lead to mottling of teeth.

• Presence of excess fluorine in water cause fluorosis.

• To reduce tooth decay most tooth paste contain fluoride.

• Deficiency of molybdenum affect the activity of nitrogenase, nitrate, reductase and chlorate reductase in plant.

• Hard enamel layer of teeth is calcium hydroxyl apatite.

• Deficiency of calcium and iron is generally found in pregnant women.

• A typical adult human body contains about 25 gram of magnesium.

6. Water

Human gets it by drinking water is the important component of our body. 65-75% weight of the body is water.

Main Functions of Water

• Water controls the temperature of our body by sweating and vaporizing.

• It is the important way of excretion of the excretory substances from the body.

• Maximum chemical reactions in the body perform through hydrolysis.

Balance Diet

That nutrition, in which all the important nutrients for organism are available in sufficient quantity is called Balance Diet. Balance nutrition is obtained from Balance Diet, which is given in the chart below :

Balanced Diet Chart

Bt-Brinjal is a genetically modified vegetable recently being made available in Indian market.

Necessary Calorie for a Human Being

Sodium Benzoate is used as preservative to preserve food item.

Milk is not considered as complete food due to lack of vitamin C and iron.

Final Thoughts

Nutrition is a vital life process that includes the intake, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion of food. Organisms require nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water for energy, growth, and body maintenance. Carbohydrates provide immediate energy, while proteins help build tissues and enzymes.

Fats store energy and maintain body temperature. Vitamins and minerals regulate metabolism and prevent diseases like rickets, scurvy, and anaemia. Water, making up 65–75% of body weight, supports all biochemical reactions.

A balanced diet containing all nutrients in proper amounts ensures healthy growth, strong immunity, and proper body functioning for both children and adults.