We have all heard the saying, ‘Eat healthy, stay healthy’ but what exactly does that mean? Food is any food taken to supply nutritional support to an organism for its complete growth and development. Food is generally of animal, plant or fungi origin, and includes necessary nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals. Food is used to provide energy, fuel or oxygen to the living organisms use food as their primary source of nourishment. It is the living organisms that take in food to grow, develop and maintain their health.

Food provides energy to the organisms and plants by way of carbohydrates, which are made up of glucose or starch, that is obtained from the food’s carbohydrates. The major food sources of carbohydrates are bread, cereals, pasta, rice, corn, triticale, potatoes and some fruits. Some of the other major food sources of carbohydrates are sugar, fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans and nuts. Some dietary fiber helps to regulate the amount of carbohydrates taken in, as well as regulating the levels of cholesterol in the blood. Diabetic individuals should be careful about the types of carbohydrates they take because some carbohydrates are easier to turn into sugar than others are. While some carbohydrates are more difficult to convert into sugar, the rest can be easily converted into glucose.

The human body needs certain nutrients in order to survive and perform properly. The three most important nutrients to a human being are: Vitamin A, B and C; Vitamin D; and potassium, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium. By eating a well-balanced diet that contains a wide variety of foods, you can meet your daily nutritional requirements and can keep your immune system strong. Proper nutrition is important for proper cell division, strong muscles and bones, normal brain activity, proper hormone levels and healthy skin and hair.

There are three main food groups, which include protein, vegetable and fruit. All three groups provide the body with protein, which is the building block of muscle and bone tissues and organs; vitamins and minerals such as potassium and phosphorus; and antioxidants. Antioxidants are chemicals that help to fight off diseases and bacteria that cause infections in the body. Proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle are important for the maintenance of these chemicals. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants. Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidants, which also provide a lot of other health benefits.

Fats, on the other hand, are needed to give the body the energy it needs to carry on with the day-to-day functions of the body. Oily, tropical and saffron-based fats are good fats, as they do not increase the blood cholesterol levels and have no known effects on the heart or the lungs. However, excessive consumption of fats may cause an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Vegetables, fruits and grains are rich in dietary fiber and are easily digested by the body, which makes them great dietary fiber sources.

Many kinds of food that fall into the class of edible substances can be combined in recipes for optimal health and nutrition. While it is not advisable to completely substitute any of the edible substances mentioned in this article (especially white flour and white sugar), the combination of many of them will still lead to a healthier diet. For instance, adding steamed broccoli or carrot to a salad will make it a tasty and nutrient-rich meal.