Food is any material food consumed to supply nutrition to an organism. Generally, food is generally of animal, plant or fungi origin, and includes essential nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, or minerals. Plants contain food components called compounds which are in turn processed into food for human consumption. Every living thing is capable of storing and processing food, but only animals can process these food types into a usable form. Plants are incapable of storing food, although some plant foods such as starch are made into usable substances by the digestive system of animals.
Some of the major food groups are carbohydrates, vegetables, proteins, fruits, dairy products, fats, oils, and salt. Among the carbohydrates, the two main categories are: starches, and starches derived from plant sources; and sugars, which are mainly sugar produced by various species of plants. Vegetables, and to a lesser extent dairy products, are the main source of carbohydrates in human diets. Fruits and vegetables constitute a large part of the dietary intake of the human population, although legumes, grains, and whole grains are also important sources of carbohydrates.
The primary food groups, i.e., carbohydrates, vegetables, proteins and vitamins constitute the nutritional content of our diets. It is important to choose the most nutritious type of food, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, in order to ensure good health. A variety of fresh and dried fruits, nuts and seeds provide a wide range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, which can help you overcome vitamin deficiencies. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a rich source of vitamins A, C, K, E, B-complex vitamins and potassium. Dry fruits and whole grains are a rich source of proteins, while dairy products and fats provide essential fatty acids and some other nutrients.