Harvesting Sustenance: The Vital Role of Crops in Global Food Security

Crops are of paramount importance for food production, serving as the primary source of sustenance for humanity. They provide essential nutrients in food, including carbohydrates, proteins, and vital vitamins, in our daily diets. Effective crop management is central to addressing global food security and ensuring a stable supply of nourishing food.

Exploring the Spectrum of Nutrients in Food for Optimal Health

• Varied Ingredients: Food is generally made of many ingredients. Ingredients contain some components that are needed by our body. These components are called nutrients.
• Major nutrients are listed as follows:

• • Carbohydrates

• • Proteins

• • Fat

• • Vitamins

• • Minerals

• • Dietary fibre

• • Water

• Types of Carbohydrates: There are generally two types of carbohydrates in food:

• • Starch

• • Sugar

Exploring the Diversity of Nutrients in Food Through Identification Tests

• Test to see if the food contains carbohydrates: If the colour of (Food + Dilute Iodine solution) changes to blue black then it indicates that the tested food has Starch or Carbohydrates.

• Test to see if the food contains Protein in fats: Take a food item and crush it, if an oily patch is found in the crushed food, then it indicates food has fats.

• Test to see if the food contains Protein in food: If the colour of (food item + solution of copper sulphate + caustic soda) changes to violet , then It indicates tested food has Protein.

Need of Nutrients in food:  Exploring Nutrient Sources for Energy, Growth, and Defense Against Disease

• Sources of Energy: Carbohydrates and fats mainly provide energy to us. 
  • Carbohydrate Source:  Carbohydrates and fats mainly provide nutrients in food. Carbohydrate sources include Sweet Potato, Potato, Sugarcane, Papaya, Melon, Mango, Maize, Bajra, Rice, and Wheat.
  • Higher Energy: Fat has much more energy than carbohydrates. We get fats from both plants and animals. 
  • Sources of Fat: Plant sources of fats are Sunflower Oil, Groundnut Oil, Mustard Oil, Coconut Oil, Soybean Oil and the animal sources are Meat, Fish, Eggs, Ghee, Butter and Cream.
  • Energy Food: Foods containing fats and carbohydrates are generally called ‘energy giving foods’.

• Growth and Repair: Proteins, essential nutrients in food, are needed for the growth and repair of our body. These foods are called body building foods. 

• • Sources: Some sources are Peas, Gram, Moong, Soybeans, Tur Dal, Beans, Meat, Fish, Paneer and Eggs.

• Defence against Disease: Vitamins help in protecting our body against diseases. Vitamins also help in keeping our eyes, bones, teeth and gums healthy.

• • Different Types: Vitamins are of different kinds known by different names. 
  • Some of these are Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and K. 
  • There is also a group of vitamins called Vitamin B-complex.
  • Our body needs all types of vitamins in small quantities.

Balancing Act: Navigating the Essentials of a Healthy Diet for Optimal Well-being

Requirement: For the growth and maintenance of good health, our diet should have all the nutrients that our body needs, in the right quantity, not too much of one nor too little of other.

Balance diet= Roughage + water + right quantities of all nutrients

Excess Fat: Too much fat leads to obesity.

Understanding the Impact of Nutrient Deficiency Diseases on Health

Nutrient Deficiency: Diseases that occur due to lack of nutrients over a long period are called deficiency disease.

Example: Lack of protein leads to Stunted growth, swelling face, discoloration of hairs, skin disease, etc.

Prolonged Deficiency: If an individual experiences a prolonged lack of both carbohydrates and proteins in their diet, it can lead to a complete halt in growth. 

Results: This can result in significant emaciation, extreme thinness, and such a severe weakness that mobility may be greatly impaired.

Exploring Deficiency Diseases and the Role of Fortification in Nutritional Wellness

Required Fortification: Fortification of food is the addition of key vitamins and minerals to staple foods such as rice, wheat, oil, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content. 

There is a logo for the fortified items as per the standards of FSSAI.

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