Food and nutrition: carbohydrates; their Function and sources

Food&Nutrition:

              Food are the substances which are very essential for growth and development of an organism. We all Living organism need food for living. Process of obtaining nutrients or food is called Nutrition. Nutrients are the organic or inorganic substance which help in our survival and maintaining proper health. 

               Nutrients are of two types; 1.Macro nutrients

                                                                 2.Micro nutrients

1.Macro nutrients: Body required these nutrients in large amount e.g. carbohydrates, protein and fat. 

2.Micro nutrients: Body required these nutrients in minute or very small amount ; e.g. minerals and vitamins. It regulates different functions of the body. 

Carbohydrates:

              Carbohydrates provides energy to living organisms and it's known as the primary source of energy. These are chemically composed of carbon , hydrogen and oxygen. Animals consume three types of carbohydrates in food,these are; 1.starch, 2.sugars, 3.cellulose.

Common sources of Carbohydrates:

              • Starch found in cereals (wheat, rice and maize),

Millets(bajra, jowar, barley roots)  and tubers ( sweet potato, tapioca and potato) 

                  • Sugar found in sugarcane, beet root, fruits(mango, banana, chiku, sapota)

,milk

, honey etc. 

                 

 • cellulose found in cell walls of Vegetables

, fruits and cereals. 

 Quantity:

               A normal person needs about 400-500 grams of carbohydrates daily in the diet. A lactating mother,A growing child and a person doing hard work need more carbohydrates than an average person because of their greater energy requirements. 

 Functions of carbohydrates:

1.Glucose is the only source of energy for the CNS(central nervous system) . 

2.Excess carbohydrates are converted into glycogen and serve as reserve sources of energy. 

3.Lactose sugar promotes the growth of intestinal bacteria that facilitates the absorption of calcium. 

                  

                  "Carbohydrate is a nutrient that supplies energy to the body, builds and repairs body tissues and regulates the metabolism of body on the basis of the quantity required by the body"

     

              "Stay healthy & stay fit"