All
the foods we eat consist mainly of three
types: carbohydrates, proteins, and fat.
This is not to deny the importance of vitamins and mineral salts but for
the purpose of this discussion, we will limit our discussions to the first
three.
the foods we eat consist mainly of three
types: carbohydrates, proteins, and fat.
This is not to deny the importance of vitamins and mineral salts but for
the purpose of this discussion, we will limit our discussions to the first
three.
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Carbohydrates are the foods that
provide energy for most of the activities of the body, including all physical
and mental activities. The body therefore needs more carbohydrates than any
other food type. You can say that
carbohydrates are the most important food type and they are the commonest and
cheapest. This is probably nature’s way
to ensure that the all important carbohydrates are plentifully and easily
available. The food stuffs that contain
more of carbohydrates include cassava, yam, grains like rice and corn,
plantains and potatoes. They constitute
the staple food for most Nigerians.
provide energy for most of the activities of the body, including all physical
and mental activities. The body therefore needs more carbohydrates than any
other food type. You can say that
carbohydrates are the most important food type and they are the commonest and
cheapest. This is probably nature’s way
to ensure that the all important carbohydrates are plentifully and easily
available. The food stuffs that contain
more of carbohydrates include cassava, yam, grains like rice and corn,
plantains and potatoes. They constitute
the staple food for most Nigerians.
Proteins are the foods that
are used primarily for regeneration of new tissues, so they are needed for
growth in children and for repair of worn out or damaged tissues in both adults
and children. Proteins are obtained
mainly from animal sources, such as meat, fish, eggs, chicken, and milk. You can easily observe that protein-rich
foods are generally scarce and more expensive. People tend to value protein
foods more and those who can afford it often eat a lot of them. Certain vegetable foodstuffs, such as the
beans family, are also a good source of protein.
are used primarily for regeneration of new tissues, so they are needed for
growth in children and for repair of worn out or damaged tissues in both adults
and children. Proteins are obtained
mainly from animal sources, such as meat, fish, eggs, chicken, and milk. You can easily observe that protein-rich
foods are generally scarce and more expensive. People tend to value protein
foods more and those who can afford it often eat a lot of them. Certain vegetable foodstuffs, such as the
beans family, are also a good source of protein.
Fat is mainly in the
form of oils and like carbohydrates, it is a source of energy. The same amount of fat produces more than two
times the amount of energy than carbohydrates.
One gram of fat produces over nine calories while the same amount of
carbohydrates or proteins produces only four calories. There are both animal as well as vegetable
sources of fat.
form of oils and like carbohydrates, it is a source of energy. The same amount of fat produces more than two
times the amount of energy than carbohydrates.
One gram of fat produces over nine calories while the same amount of
carbohydrates or proteins produces only four calories. There are both animal as well as vegetable
sources of fat.
“You can see
therefore that any food type that is eaten in excess of body requirements will
end up as fat to be stored somewhere in the body. So, whether you consume only the highly
valued expensive protein foods or cheap carbohydrates, once you eat more than
what your body needs, you will end up being overweight or obese”.
Although
we talk of a particular foodstuff being a source of carbohydrates, protein or
fat, most foodstuffs usually contain some of each of the three food types.
Hardly any food stuff contains only one food type; it is therefore a matter of
a particular food stuff being mainly a source of one food type or another. That is, when we talk of sources of food
types, it is a matter of a particular foodstuff containing more or
carbohydrates, proteins or fat, hardly anyone contains only a particular food
type.
we talk of a particular foodstuff being a source of carbohydrates, protein or
fat, most foodstuffs usually contain some of each of the three food types.
Hardly any food stuff contains only one food type; it is therefore a matter of
a particular food stuff being mainly a source of one food type or another. That is, when we talk of sources of food
types, it is a matter of a particular foodstuff containing more or
carbohydrates, proteins or fat, hardly anyone contains only a particular food
type.
Although
we have discussed the functions of each food type in the body, it should be
noted that all food types can be converted to glucose or sugar, which
is the end product of carbohydrates.
Glucose is the form in which sugar is used to provide energy in the
body. Any glucose in excess of what the
body needs is usually changed to fat for storage in different parts of the
body. The body cannot store proteins;
proteins consumed in excess of the individual’s daily requirements are normally
converted into glucose for energy or fat for storage. Therefore, proteins
consumed in excess of the body daily requirements are ultimately changed to
fat.
we have discussed the functions of each food type in the body, it should be
noted that all food types can be converted to glucose or sugar, which
is the end product of carbohydrates.
Glucose is the form in which sugar is used to provide energy in the
body. Any glucose in excess of what the
body needs is usually changed to fat for storage in different parts of the
body. The body cannot store proteins;
proteins consumed in excess of the individual’s daily requirements are normally
converted into glucose for energy or fat for storage. Therefore, proteins
consumed in excess of the body daily requirements are ultimately changed to
fat.
You
can see therefore that any food type that is eaten in excess of body
requirements will end up as fat to be stored somewhere in the body. So, whether you consume only the highly
valued expensive protein foods or cheap carbohydrates, once you eat more than
what your body needs, you will end up being overweight or obese. It is particularly dangerous to put on extra
weight from animal protein sources, as later explained in the next section.
can see therefore that any food type that is eaten in excess of body
requirements will end up as fat to be stored somewhere in the body. So, whether you consume only the highly
valued expensive protein foods or cheap carbohydrates, once you eat more than
what your body needs, you will end up being overweight or obese. It is particularly dangerous to put on extra
weight from animal protein sources, as later explained in the next section.
From the Book; “Early and Sudden Death; the Price of Affluence among
Nigerians”
Nigerians”
(Read “Overweight
& the Science of Heart Attack” tomorrow on Asabeafrika)
& the Science of Heart Attack” tomorrow on Asabeafrika)
