What is a diet food?
Diet food comprises of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, and meat. Dietary requirements vary from age, sex, occupation, lifestyle and many other factors. For instance high carbohydrate diet is required for energy. Basic components such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fats roughage and water are essential part of a diet. A diet containing all these components in an appropriate amount is called as balanced diet. An adequate diet supplies required nutritional needs and sufficient amount of energy. The average amount of calories required by a human in a day is 2000 units. But women need fewer calories as compared to men. Diet food plays a key role in providing adequate amount of energy to the body. Everyone needs minerals, proteins, vitamins, fats, carbohydrates etc for the maintenance and regulation of their body functions and building up of body tissues.
About the components of the diet
Carbohydrates include starch and sugar and are major source of energy. Starches and sugars are present in fruits, pulses, grains, nuts, vegetables and milk etc. they protect the body from high cholesterol level and obesity.
Proteins comprise of long chains of amino acids of different kinds. They are body building material, repair cells and regulate body metabolism. They also assist body’s immune system. Almost all fruits and vegetables contain proteins.
Fats contain fatty acids and glycerol. They provide large amount of energy to the body. There are two types of fats- saturated and unsaturated. Unsaturated fats are very important for healthy skin, brain, bones, nerves etc.
Minerals are inorganic substances which are required in very small quantities in our body but they play a very important role in the balanced diet. They build and maintain teeth and bones. Its deficiency can lead to brittle teeth and bones. Minerals are present in milk, bread, cheese etc.
Vitamins are organic substances which help in normal functioning of the body.