The food we eat plays a hugely important role in the kind of life we enjoy. Eat enough of the right stuff, and, over the course of a lifetime, you’re near certain to be healthier, happier, and more physically capable than you would otherwise have been.
Unfortunately, the question of what to eat can be a tricky one for human beings. Most animals on the planet eat a fairly uniform diet, from which they can synthesise all of the nutrients they need. Some, in fact, just eat one thing. Human beings, on the other hand, have adapted to eat a varied diet from different food groups – and if we don’t get it, the consequences can be disastrous.
Naturally, the science of food can be hugely complicated – but with an understanding of the basics, you’ll be in a better position to make decisions about your diet. Let’s take a look at some basic categories of food.
Starchy Carbs
Carbohydrates, or carbs, are mainly used by the body as energy. They come various complexities. A very simple carbohydrate can be used very quickly. Sucrose, or table sugar, is comprised of a single glucose molecule and a single fructose molecule, joined by an oxygen atom. On the other hand, there’s the starch you might find in wheat, potatoes, rice, and other kinds of food we might think of as ‘carbs’. Starch consists of a long chain of glucose molecules, which your body can break down for fuel over a longer period.
Fruit and veg
Fruits and vegetables contain the sugars we’ve just discussed, in various complexities. But they also contain the vitamins and minerals we need to stay alive. Spinach, for example, contains lots of iron. Since different fruits and vegetables offer different balances of vitamins and minerals, it’s a good idea to eat a mix of them. That way, you can be fairly sure that all of your bases are covered.
Dairy
Dairy products are those based around milk. The milk can be processed in various ways, to create cheeses, butters, and the protein supplements that you might take if you’re really serious about nutrition.
Protein
Proteins can be thought of as the building blocks of your body. Just about every cell is made up from them, and they’re also used to fuel various chemical reactions that keep you alive. Proteins are actually made up from more than twenty more fundamental substances called amino acids, of which we need to get nine from food. If you’re eating a complete protein, then you’re eating one that contains all nine of them.
You can get protein from meat, eggs and dairy – but you can also get it from plant-based sources. Eat a bowl of protein granola in the morning, and you’ll be getting plenty of it.
Fats
Much maligned in decades gone by, fats are actually an essential macronutrient. They’re hugely energy-dense, containing nine calories per gram, compared with the four found in protein and carbs.
It’s important to eat a varied diet from all different food groups.
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