Essential Function of Food - Essay Example

Functions of Food At present, with fast moving and continuously changing world and more and more physical stress healthy and fresh food is absolutely important for any human being to be fit and survive in this competitive world. With the development and advancement of technology and science, modernization and innovation in the communication and transport system, development of new civilization the amount of pollution and also environment degradation is being increased many a times than the older time. So, to fight with this environmental pollution healthy and fresh food is absolutely important for human body. In present world, in every country be it a developed one or the developing one for any government it is the fundamental work or duty to make it sure that each and every person of that country is getting sufficient healthy food. Getting healthy food is one of the basic fundamental rights of each and every individual in this world. In this paper, the main objective is to analyze the importance of food in one’s life. The report is mainly focusing on the scientific value of foods in human life, how it plays role in the development of human body, what are the main effects that absence of healthy and fresh food can cause to a human body from the science mainly the biological and physiological perspective. In this paper there is also a brief discussion about the guidelines given by WHO (World Health Organization) about the importance of healthy foods and also about the basic minimum quantity that an individual need in different stages of his or her life for proper growth and development. The research ends with the measures adopted by nations to ensure nutritious food for all. Essential Function of Food: In every human’s body food generally performs many basic and essential activities. Those activities can be classified into following heads. These are as follows: Physiological Functions, Psychological Functions, and Socio-Cultural Functions. Physiological Functions: Generally any human’s body always does some kind of work or othersvoluntary and involuntary. There is not a single instant in life when the body is totally at rest and does not have need of energy. Even when the body is under relaxation (i.e. during sleep) energy is compulsory to carry out the automatic processes of the body such as digestion, respiration, circulation, beating of the heart etc. Energy is also compulsory to carry out skilled, household and other activities. To do this activities energy is absolutely necessary and that energy comes from foods, food which have more carbohydrates and fats in it. Secondly, Foods generally provide human body the necessary materials for the tissue building, growth and body repair and all this ingredients are present in the proteins and minerals which are available in the food. In human body, the development of muscles, bones in different parts of the body and their maintenance all entirely dependent of protein and that protein is there in healthy foods. Different minerals like calcium, iron and phosphorus affect the formation of blood and skeleton tissue (bones). Thirdly, healthy foods protect human body from the attack of different diseases. In this case, vitamins play a vital in regulating body processes like growth, eyesight, health of the skin, formation of teeth and good digestion. Minerals also act as catalysts for many biological reactions within the body. Minerals also play a key role apart from development in muscle and bones in the development of nervous system which helps body to react to different kinds of external situations. Both vitamins and minerals are important in order to maintain the general health of the body. (Ashiya, 2012) Psychological Functions: Apart from playing an important role in the development of human body, food also plays an important role in satisfying certain emotional requirements of human body. In general a child used to learn about security from the way his or her motherfeeds him. Same way, a growing child also feels secure when he or she knows that there was food in the house for them. In every parts of the world, no matter whether it is a poor country or a developing country or the most developed nation, presence of food in the house ensure a feeling of security among the people of that very country. (Ashiya, 2012) Socio-cultural Function: From the very early days the socio cultural life of every individual has been controlled and revolved around the food and its availability. It is used as a symbol of hospitality. Foods also act as a symbol of developing social relationship in any gathering across the globe. In every household, depending upon their social class, status and religion there is a specific food plan and style. In modern world, food has brought about an incorporation of different philosophies, race, principles and thinking of people, by accepting and relishing others dishes (Ashiya, 2012). How Food Digest in the Body: Digestion is the process of changing food into a form that the body can absorb and use as energy or as the raw materials to repair and build new tissue. Digesting of food is divided in to two distinct parts. One is Mechanical and other is chemical. Mechanical digestion begins in the mouth asteeth tear and grind food into small bits and pieces. The muscular walls of esophagus, stomach, and intestines persist with automatic digestion, moving the food through the path, mixing and dividing it further into minute fragments (Rinzler & De Vault, 2014). Chemical digestion takes place throughout the digestive system, it starts when a human body visualizes or inhales the scent of food. These sensory actions initiate nerve urges from the eyes and nose that set off the discharge of enzymes and other materials which may gradually decompose food to let go of the nutrients within. Human body would hence burn or act upon these nutrients to release energy and build new cells and tissues (Rinzler & De Vault, 2014). How sight and smell relate to digestion in the human body: At first glance or sniff the digestive link between 3 different parts of human body eyes, nose, and stomach sounds a tad weird. Just by seeing an appetizing dish or its scent (“actually scent molecules bouncing against the nasal tissues”) sends indications to the human brain (Rinzler & De Vault, 2014). As a result, the brain the quintessential message center shoots out different signals to the different parts of the human body and therefore following steps happens such as started to feel the taste of food; stomach started to initiate its functions, intestinal glands start leaking digestive chemicals. When any human body eats any food then there are different series of program takes place. When mouth bites any kinds of food then it acts as the starting point of digestion. The teeth chew foods, decomposing it into minute convenient fragments. After that, the salivary glands discharge a watery fluid (saliva) to condense the food into a soft ball that can glide effortlessly down the gullet on a watercourse of saliva. After that different kinds of Enzymes, which act as digestive catalysts in this case in the saliva started to digest the carbohydrates which are there in that food and then through a muscular valve called the upper esophageal sphincter, which opens to allow the food through. (Rinzler & De Vault, 2014) Swallowing food: The slide from throat to stomach The human digestive system is believed to be a wonder. As food gets inside the esophagus, salivary glands liberate a flow of saliva to assist food particles glide smoothly down the pipe. Then muscles of the throat begin acting. Like the rest of digestive tract, the esophagus in the human body is circled with muscles which would contract to generate wavelike motions —which can be referred as peristaltic contractions. At the bottom of the esophagus — an area known as the gastro esophageal junction there is a well-built valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens to allow food through. Then the LES closes to prevent reflux, the flow of stomach contents back into the esophagus (Rinzler & De Vault, 2014). Food Digestion in the Stomach: Stomach is the most important part in the human digestion system, is located on the left side of human body above the waist and behind human ribs. Like the walls of esophagus, the walls of human stomach are strong and muscular. It have sufficient strength to defragment food into ever more minute components as glands in the abdomen walls discharge juices which are highly acidic mix of enzymes, hydrochloric acid (HCl), and mucus. The abdomen juices start the absorption of proteins and fats into the building blocks of the body — amino acids and fatty acids. Cooked by the stomach walls and decomposed by the stomach juices, what started as food thus becomes a thick, soupy mass called chyme. The movements of the stomach move this mesh towards the small intestine. From this step onwards the human body begins to pull out the nutrients it needs from the food. (Rinzler & De Vault, 2014). Pulling out nutrients in the small intestine Inside the human body, a 20-foot-long small intestine is effortlessly coiled. The intestine is the critical part of the human digestive system. This part of gastric system has its individual set of peptic juices which have different ingredients: Alkaline goop from the pancreas that controls special enzymes called amylase, Bile from the liver and gallbladder that works as an emulsifier, allows fats to mix with water in the human body and the Pancreatic (an intestinal) enzymes help in the process of parting proteins into amino acids. More reductions push the chyme along the intestines while specific cells in the intestinal walls clutch onto sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, which are then transported to different parts of human body for energy or as construction blocks for new tissue. Once the slight intestine has embraced every last little bit of useful material other than water out of the food, the indigestible remainder moves toward its inevitable end in the large intestine (Rinzler & De Vault, 2014) Final Stages of Digestion: The large intestine is also sometimes known as colon. One can consider this area as a huge sponge and whose only work is to absorb water from the bulk of food deliver to it and then crush the dry scraps into dense bundles of surplus — which also known as feces. At the very last phase after responsive bacteria abstract any amino acids residual in the waste and excrete smelly nitrogen in process which scientists call passing gas, muscular shriveling in the rectum thrust the feces out of from human body, and the compound process of digestion is finally done (Rinzler & De Vault, 2014). Why Human Body Needs Food: Without nutrition any human body cannot survive and do its normal activities. As in modern world every machine need power or energy to function continuously human body is also the same. It needs power to perform its daily activity. Foods provide the power to the human body. For smooth functioning of human body every one need protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and all these four basic materials are available in the foods. Protein: Protein in the diet can come from meats, nuts, beans and certain whole grains. Human body use protein in order to repair the muscles, skin and bones. In the digestive system protein generally break down into the amino acids that constitute them.Although a human body can produce amino acids but there are 8 amino acids which are must in the food are known as essential amino acids. Carbohydrates: When any human body receives carbohydrates from foods, it converts them into glucose and uses them to fuel various body processes. Fats: Fats provide essential energy for the human body. It helps the body to absorb vitamins and help in growth and development. Healthy fats also help to control cholesterol level. Vitamins: Human body needs 13 essential vitamins to complete its daily digestion process, growth and complete nerve function. A balanced diet always provides all these 13 essential vitamins to human body which are vitamin A, C, D, E, K and the eight types of B vitamins. (Mack, 2011). Different Foods and their importance: Medical journals through its research find out that in different parts of the world there are different foods which are important for health of the people for that part of the world. For example in Europe and North America following ten foods are most healthy for the people of those areas. These are as follows: apple, almonds, broccoli, blueberries, oily fish, leafy green vegetables, sweet potatoes, wheat germ, and oatmeal. Among all these foods, apple is known for its high source of antioxidants, which combat free radicals-the damaging substances that cause undesirable changes in the human body and are involved in the aging process of human body and some diseases. Research also proves the fact that consumption of apple on daily basis ensures 23%dropin the level of bad cholesterol and 4% increase in good cholesterol. (Price, 2011). The next important food for human body is almonds. It is rich in nutrients, vitamin E, iron, calcium. Review suggested that almond as a food helps to maintain the healthy cholesterol level in the body. (Berryman et.al, 2011, p.171). Broccoli is also a very healthy food for human body. iT is rich in fiber, calcium, potassium, and phytonutrients which helps in reducing the possibilities of heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer as well. Broccoli is also very rich in Vitamin C. (Douglas, 2000). Blueberries are very rich in fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients.Scientific study also proves the fact that aging people who eat plenty of blueberries they are unlikely to suffer from cognitive decline. (Elizabeth et.al, 2012, p.135). Different example of oily fish includes salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines and anchovies. All these fish have oils in their tissue. All these oil contain omega 3 fatty acids which help in the development of heart, as well as the nervous system. It also provides benefits for patients with inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis. Oily fish contain essential vitamins like vitamin A and Vitamin D. (Aronson, et.al, 2011, p. 2062). Leafy vegetables also help to reduce the chances of developing diabetes in the human body. Apart from that it also helps in increasing the level of vitamins in the human body. Spinach is very rich in antioxidants and also provide a high-quality supply of vitamins A, B6, C, E and K, as well as selenium, niacin, zinc, phosphorus, copper in the human body (Carter et.al, 2010). Sweet potatoes are also healthy for human body as they are loaded with dietary fiber, beta carotene, and complex carbohydrates and also are a basis of vitamin C and B6 in the human body. Present research also has shown that sweet potatoes are ranked number one as a source of vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, protein and complex carbohydrates. (10 Worst and Best Foods, 2013). Few other healthy foods for human body are wheat germ, avocados and oatmeal. According research, avocados ensure diet quality and nutrient intake level, lower intake of added sugars, lower body weight, better BMI for human body (Fulgoni, et.al, 2013). Conclusion: Food is an essential component for every individual life. In order to develop healthy body good foods with proper nutrients is absolutely necessary. In the world food or availability of food is considers as one of the basic needs on any individual. So there proper law in place in every country to ensure that, each and every individual must get sufficient food for their growth and development. In modern world of high competition natural food is absolutely necessary. In human body food digestion takes place through various processes. Whatever discussed in the paper is the broad outline of the food digestion process and how it helps in the body building. Continuous research is still going on in this process so that people of the world can able to understand the complex digestion process easily and can also able to figure out what are the foods essential to ensure that a human body can combat with the work load pollution and other hazards of the modern world. 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