Human beings require nutrients to survive, develop and grow. Food is what provides all the means needed to get those nutrients. But unlike other living things, food is also a pleasure for people.
The diet of the human being has changed as history has advanced. But what has not changed at all is the heterotrophic condition, that is, that nutrition in which organic matter is transformed into nutrients and energy. That’s because people need matter that comes from other living things to get nutrients.
Feeding
The general definition of food is nothing more than the procedure through which every living being consumes various kinds of food, in order to obtain all the nutrients it needs to live. And once the nutrients are extracted from the food, they will be transformed into energy for the body.
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By their nature, humans are omnivores, which means that they are capable of consuming foods that are of animal as well as vegetable origin, as long as everything is edible. Still, history shows that eating habits were not always the same.
Homo sapiens, who are the ancestors of modern humans, most likely fed on certain insects and plant matter. There are theories that suggest the probability that the brain mass in humans has increased, this being the reason why meat was included in eating habits, perhaps by cooking food a greater amount of energy was obtained.
These first human specimens had a diet that they obtained through hunting, fishing and the collection of fruits and plants. Over time, agriculture developed and some animals were domesticated, which offered a greater possibility of maintaining order in the food that was available to them.
As time passed, people from many parts of the world shaped their own gastronomy, taking into account the resources found in their region and their needs.
Currently, people’s diet consists of foods that have nutrients that are useful for the body: carbohydrates, fats, mineral salts and other nutrients. Also, each of these components is made up of certain substances, such as amino acids, which are inside the body and are very important for growth, breathing and even to supply the necessary energy to the body.
The average person can go up to 40 days without eating, taking into account their health status, body weight, level of body fat, and a host of other factors. But what has become crystal clear is that no person has the ability to live without food.
Nutrition
Before mentioning all the variants of food, it is necessary to talk a little about nutrition. This is the procedure that offers the necessary energy to the body to stay alive and is what allows a living being to fulfill all its functions. There are different types of nutrition and they can be classified as follows:
autotrophic nutrition
This refers to individual nutrition or oneself, by synthesizing organic substances. This means that it is a nutrition that is carried out by living beings that have the ability to produce their own food.
A clear example of this kind of nutrition are plants. They have the ability to feed through photosynthesis. Likewise, this kind of living being is also called photolithoautotrophs. On the contrary, those living beings that extract certain chemical elements to feed themselves are called chemolithotrophs and an example of them are bacteria.
Heterotrophic nutrition
This kind of nutrition is used by living things that require a prepared source of food. Animals, fungi and many microorganisms are some examples.
This type of nutrition is divided into two. Parasitic nutrition, where a living being has to inhabit the organism of another to feed itself and have the nutrients it needs. And Holozoic nutrition, where a living being needs to eat solid food.
types of nutrients
Nutrients are divided into two groups: micronutrients and macronutrients.
Macronutrients are necessary in large quantities and there are proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Unlike these, micronutrients are required in less quantity and that is where the minerals and vitamins are.
protein
These are responsible for forming the raw material that makes up the body. They are also of great help for damaged tissues to be repaired and to fight infections, although they also serve as a source of energy.
carbohydrates
Although for many people carbohydrates have become strong enemies when it comes to losing weight, the truth is that they are essential nutrients for the body, this is because they serve as food for the brain and muscles.
The nutrients that provide the most energy are carbohydrates, and most foods that contain them also contain fiber, which is very necessary for the proper functioning of the intestine.
There are two classes of carbohydrates. The simple ones, which generally have up to two sugars; and complexes, which are made up of three or more sugars.
fats
Fats make a good supply of energy for the body and at the same time are involved in all the procedures that keep the body alive in general. In addition, they perform other functions. They have a structural role, serve as a means of transport for some substances and increase palatability, the quality of being pleasing to the palate.
Types of food
In food many actions occur involuntarily, among which is nutrition and where the body is nourished to live. But there are also choices that are voluntary, and have to do with what you choose to eat. Taking this into account, we detail the different types of food that exist:
vegan food
It is a diet that consists of not consuming any food that comes from animals. Therefore, people who practice a vegan diet do not consume any type of meat, eggs, dairy or even honey.
vegetarian food
It is one of the best known food variants worldwide. The principle of all vegetarians is not to consume any kind of meat or fish. The basic foods that are implemented in a vegetarian diet are vegetables, cereals, legumes, seeds, fruits and nuts. But in addition to that, certain foods from animals such as dairy products are included.
api-vegetarian diet
In this case, they are people who are vegetarians who include honey among their foods for consumption. In general, it is required to be produced in a sustainable way so that it can be consumed.
Ovolactovegetarian diet
In this kind of diet, people do not consume meat or fish, but they do admit dairy products and eggs in their food. There are those who require that they be obtained in a sustainable and ecological way. Within this type of diet there are also other variants, which are:
Lactovegetarians: where people, in addition to not consuming any type of meat, do not consume eggs but do accept milk and any product that is part of its derivatives.
Ovo-vegetarians: in this case, people do not consume dairy products in addition to not consuming meat, but they do admit eggs to their food for consumption.
Pescetarian food
This kind of diet can also be called semi-vegetarian. It is basically about not consuming meat that comes from cows, pigs or poultry, but it is possible to eat fish as well as any kind of shellfish.
flexitarians
Although it is not a diet based on vegetarianism, this is a term that has been gaining some popularity in recent years. This kind of diet is based on consuming vegan foods or in its vegetarian difference, although it would not be exclusively. Generally, it is more than anything to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables, considerably reducing the consumption of any kind of meat.
Raw vegan diet
When people have decided to eat a raw vegan diet, it is because they focus on defending the consumption of raw food in order to preserve all its nutrients. Another of the names by which raw vegan food is known is raw diet or raw food. However, there are certain techniques for cooking food that are allowed, such as not exceeding 42 degrees Celsius.
Paleo
As the name indicates, it refers to the Paleolithic diet, which is what our ancestors implemented. In other words, it is based on a diet where you have to consume only what is good for the body from the health field, where all those foods that are processed and those that contain added sugar have to be avoided.
Although the base is mainly lean proteins, there is the possibility of consuming vegetables, seeds and fruits. However, legumes, cereals and dairy products are not allowed in this diet.
sattvik diet
It is based on Ayurveda medicine, an ancient discipline from India, where its objective is to unify the body, spirit and mind in order to obtain total well-being. And for this objective to be fulfilled, a diet specific. To put this diet into practice, it is important to consume natural, organic, very fresh products and cook them in the most natural way possible, preferably boiled, using short and raw cooking times.
macrobiotic diet
It is a diet that has its origin in Japan, and is based on a lifestyle where balance must be maintained as well as the duality of Ying and Yang. This is a very simple diet, with natural products and maintaining respect for nature. It is for this reason that it is essential to consume foods that are in season, that are handled as little as possible.
You should only eat when you feel hungry, chewing slowly and correctly. Dairy products, red meat, tomatoes, sugar, eggplant, spices, tropical fruits, or refined foods are not allowed on this diet.
frugivores
It is a diet that can be taken as a variant of the vegan diet, in which only fruits should be consumed. However, it is a diet where there is a lot of nutrient deficiency and it is possible that sugar levels will skyrocket.
Advantages and contradictions
There are many benefits that can be achieved by reducing the consumption of meat and increasing the consumption of vegetables:
– Decreases the risk of suffering from diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol or…