Everything about Foods [Food 101]

Food is everything that you eat or drink to survive.

It is an essential component of life from birth to death. Because it provides the necessary nutrients and energy for your body to function properly.

The Purpose of Food:

Do you know food is not only made for your survival?

Yes!

It has three purposes in your life — nutritional, social, and psychological purposes.

Nutritional Purpose:

Food provides nutrients and energy for all your physiological functions, such as walking, talking, thinking, wound healing, etc.

Social Purpose:

Food favors communication, social connections, and culture transmission — for example, birth, naming ceremony, birthday or marriage parties, etc.

Psychological Purpose:

Various foods also improve your emotional health and provide satisfaction.

Psychological hunger is often fast-acting and impulsive — for example, a sense of security, love, and attention. For this reason, you love your mother’s cooking.

Most foods do not accomplish these three purposes simultaneously.

For example, alcoholic beverages have no nutritional purpose, but they do have a psychological purpose. Therefore, we call them food.

On the contrary, those things you consume but not ingest or once ingest may alter your body’s metabolic functions are not food.

For example, chewing gum, tobacco, medicines, and other drugs are not considered food. These are not food.

However, you may know that food contains nutrients as well as non-nutrients.

For example, fruits and vegetables contain dietary fiber that does not provide any nutrients or energy but helps maintain your digestive system.

Food Classification:

Foods are classified based on eight factors: chemical nature, function, chemical properties, mass, origin, therapeutic function, nutritional value, and taste.

Food classification according to its Chemical Nature:

Based on their chemical nature, foods are classified into carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, and water.

This classification is also known as nutrients. I have discussed each nutrient in the nutrient section of NutritionCrown.

Food classification according to its Function:

According to their function, foods are classified into three categories:  energy-giving, bodybuilding, and protective or regulatory foods.

Energy-giving Foods:

Foods that mainly produce energy for your body are called energy giving foods. Without energy, you cannot perform internal (digestion, respiration, etc.) and external activities (walk, talk, etc.)

For this reason, energy-giving foods are essential for you. Mostly carbohydrates and fats fall under this category. Some common energy giving foods are rice, bread, potato, sugar, oil, butter, etc.

Bodybuilding Foods:

Foods that mainly provide you with all nutrients to build your body are called bodybuilding foods.

These foods facilitate cell repair and cell division. It also helps in wound healing. Bodybuilding foods are rich in protein.

Some common bodybuilding foods are milk and its derivatives, red and white meats, eggs, and legumes.

Protective or Regulatory Foods:

Foods that mainly regulate your physiological functions and protect you from the disease are called protective or regulatory foods.

They contain protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and water. Some common protective or regulatory foods are fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats, and some dairy products.

Food classification according to its Chemical Properties:

According to their chemical properties, foods are classified into two groups: organic foods and inorganic foods.

Organic Foods:

Foods that grow in a chemical-free environment and contain carbon are called organic foods.

They provide energy for your daily activity.

From the beginning of food production until it reaches the final consumer, organic foods do not come in contact with any synthetic (human-made) pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.

Nature produces them at its pace, under its law, and we are just like collectors and caretakers.

Organically raised animals also do not receive any antibiotics or hormones. They breed freely in their habitat without being caged and grow up happily. Organic animals eat natural foods free of chemicals.

Organic foods have more antioxidants and vitamins. These foods have less nitrate, less antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and pesticide residues.

Inorganic Foods:

Foods that do not provide energy or produce with the help of synthetic (human-made) pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are called inorganic foods.

Inorganic foods are basically water and minerals.

They are involved in most enzymatic chemical reactions and processes.

They influence nerve impulses to the muscles and regulate the body’s fluid balance and hundreds of other functions. In fact, minerals are part of all the processes involved in the proper functioning of the body.

They are also necessary for tissue formation and for the correct hormone synthesis.

Food classification according to its Origin:

According to their origin, foods are classified into three groups: plant-based, animal-based, and mineral-based foods.

Plant-based Foods:

Plant-based foods are those that come from the plant.

Although in recent years, modified seeds are used in agriculture. All vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, cereals, etc., are plant-based foods.

According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, consuming more fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, whole grains, and seeds are essential to prevent diseases.

Animal-based Foods:

Animal-based foods are those that come from animals.

However, not all animals are included in this group due to safety, legal and religious restrictions.

The common thing is to eat products derived from free-range animals (chicken, turkey, pork, beef, sheep, goats, etc.) or obtained through fishing (fish, sharks, crabs, etc.).

However, due to their tradition, some countries consume wild animals like ants, alligators, bats, caterpillars, rats, armadillos, snails, turtles, snakes, reindeer, deer, frogs, etc.

Mineral-based Foods:

Mineral-based foods are those that are all minerals themselves or foods that contain high doses of minerals.

Sodium chloride or salt is the most common and most important mineral that you consume. Salt gives your food a nice flavor.

However, if used in excess, it can cause major diseases like high blood pressure and obesity.

Mineral salts maintain the acid-alkali balance and prevent dehydration by retaining water into your cells.

Food classification according to its Therapeutic Function:

According to their therapeutic function, foods are classified into four groups: antioxidant foods, detoxifying foods, alkaline, and acidifying foods.

Antioxidant Foods:

Antioxidant foods are those that neutralize the action of free radicals in your body.

Free radicals are produced because of cellular oxidation. These free radicals in large quantities are harmful to your cells.

They can damage DNA, prevent cell repair, and cause a state known as oxidative stress.

Antioxidant foods neutralize these free radicals.

However, your body can produce its own antioxidants like the cellular antioxidant glutathione.

Antioxidants are found in almost all whole foods of plant and animal origin – for example, garlic, carrot, tomato, spinach, pepper, meat, fish, coffee, etc.

Detoxifying Foods:

Detoxifying foods are those that help to eliminate toxins from your body.

Your body is capable of neutralizing and eliminating toxins from your body.

However, detoxifying foods can support or even accelerate the process by providing vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, fiber antioxidants, and nutrients.

Some common detoxifying foods are pomegranate, garlic, lemons, ginger, green tea, flax seeds, etc.

Alkaline Foods:

Alkaline foods are those that increase your body’s pH level; because they contain calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and manganese.

Some common alkaline foods are fruits, nuts, legumes, and vegetables.

Acidic Foods:

Acidic foods are those that decrease your body’s pH level; because they contain protein, phosphate, iron, iodine, chlorine, and sulfur.

Animal origin foods are acidic.

Some common acidic foods are meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, and alcohol.

An unbalanced acidifying diet causes metabolic acidosis. It can cause premature aging and bone loss.

To counteract this problem, you should eat alkaline foods.

Food classification according to its Taste:

According to their taste, food is classified into five groups: bitter, sweet, salty, acidic, and umami foods.

Bitter Foods:

Bitter foods are those that can stimulate digestive juices by stimulating your taste receptors on the tongue.

Some bitter-tasting foods are vegetables like bitter melon, broccoli, cabbage, kale, cranberries, etc. Some drinks also have a bitter taste; for example, coffee, beer, green tea, red wine, etc.

A part of the population does not accept bitter flavor, and the proof of this is that it is often mixed with sugar.

Your taste buds cannot tolerate some plant substances due to their bitter taste. It is believed that this intolerance is an evolutionary mechanism to detect the bitter taste of poisons.

Due to the bitter taste, children do not like eating vegetables.

However, some bitter foods have phytonutrients that promote better liver function, control cholesterol, help balance hormones, detoxify the blood, and improve fat metabolism.

In general, bitter greens are rich in nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K, and minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. They are also rich in folic acid, fiber and low in fat and sodium.

Sweet Foods:

Sweet foods are those that are mostly made up of simple carbohydrates.

They provide energy and increase vitality.

Sweet foods are generally associated with hydrocarbon compounds such as sugar and fructose.

It is believed that we like sweetness because it helps us to recognize energy-dense foods.

Sweet taste refers to unprocessed natural foods, not the overly refined sweet like white sugar.

Sweet foods make up the largest percentage of meals.

Moderate consumption of sweet foods can give you strength, longevity, and a better mood. However, in excess, it has almost the opposite effect and can cause weight gain and many chronic health problems.

Some common sweet foods are honey, strawberries, fruit juice, sweet potatoes, carrots, etc.

Generally, at least in humans, it is usually one of the preferred types of food throughout life, especially in childhood and old age.

Salty Foods:

Salty foods are those that contain sodium chloride or salt.

Salty foods help regulate the electrolyte balance of your body and maintain homeostasis.

However, excess salt intake can cause hypertension and other diseases that decrease the quality of your life.

Some common salty foods are black olives, soups, ham, cottage cheese, pizza, and sandwiches.

Acidic Foods:

Sour or acidic foods are those that increase the acidity level of your body.

There is a difference between acid-forming food and food with acidic pH. Both types of food have low or acidic pH, but not all promote an acidic environment within your body.

Some acid-forming food like soft drinks, animal products, processed grains, and dairy products promote an acidic environment that is harmful to your health.

However, some low pH or acidic pH foods like lemons, limes, grapefruit, oranges, and tomatoes have low PRALs that are not harmful to your health.

PRALs: Potential renal acid loads, which are measured by acid excretion in the urine or the acid load that the kidneys must excrete to maintain your body’s pH.

pH: pH is the concentration of the hydrogen ion level in your body.

On the pH scale, 0 indicates the highest acidity level, 7 is neutral, and 14 is the highest alkaline level.

Your blood is slightly alkaline (pH range is 7.35 to 7.45). However, the stomach is slightly acidic (pH range is 1.5 to 3.5), which helps foods to break down properly.

That is why limit your consumption of acid-forming foods and eat more alkaline foods. However, not completely avoid these foods. That is why balance is required.

Your daily diet must have 60-80% of alkaline foods and the rest 20-40% acidic.

Some common alkaline foods are garlic, lentils, onions, pineapple, pumpkin seeds, apples, grapes, dates, broccoli, and lemons.

Umami Foods:

Umami foods are those that taste exotic and pleasant. It can cause salivation, offer prolonged aftertaste, a velvety sensation, and stimulate the palate, throat, and back of the mouth.

For several decades scientists have debated whether it was a basic flavor or not. Finally, they accepted the umami taste officially as the 5th flavor by finding specific receptors on the tongue that were activated by detecting this new and peculiar flavor.

Umami is the flavor of one of the most common amino acids found in proteins, glutamic acid. This flavor is the perception that is received when your taste receptors interact with this amino acid.

Some foods that taste like umami are cheese, asparagus, tomatoes, meat, anchovies, soy sauce, and ham.

These foods are for enhancing the pleasant taste of other foods.

Taboo Foods:

Another food category is taboo foods.

These foods are not acceptable for eating for cultural or religious reasons.

For example, beef is taboo food for Hindus, while pork is taboo for Muslims and Jews.

Food FAQs:

Takeaway:

On a vast planet with about 8 billion people where you only hear about our differences, there are some things that connect us. One of them is food. It binds us all. We all need it, depend on it, we can survive because of this and it brings us happiness.

It is part of our habit and culture. Food is even part of how we interact with others.

Food is a blessing of nature. It gives us nutrition. Eat as much unprocessed version as you can to get the blessings.

Don’t waste it.

References:

• IFSAC Food Categorization Scheme – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Classification of food products according to NOVA – Future Learn
• Food – Wikipedia