Page 24 - Genius Brain Science Spark-6

COMPONENTS OF FOOD

The food contains various substances required by our body. These are called nutrients.Nutrients
are, in fact, chemical substances present in food which provide energy and materials needed by
the body.

There are five components present in food. These are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and
minerals. In addition, food also contains water and roughage (fibre).

Many types of food contain only one nutrient, for example, sugar (a carbohydrate). Some types of
food may be rich in one particular nutrient, but may contain other nutrients as well. If we consider
meat, it is a rich source of proteins but it also contains fats, vitamins and minerals.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Food containing carbohydrates are energy-
giving foods. Mainly our food consists of carbohydrates. The two types of carbohydrates are
sugars and starches.

Foods rich in carbohydrates are rice , bread, table sugar (used in tea or coffee), honey, potato ,
wheat (chapattis), milk, jaggery (gur) and fruits like mango, banana and papaya.

Mango Milk Paneer

Bananas Potatoes Bread

Rice Honey Jaggery

Know the Fact

• Wheat, potatoes, rice, bread and maize are rich in starches.
• Processed foods like jams, jellies, pizzas, burgers, candies and chocolates are rich in
carbohydrates.
• Table sugar, candies, honey, milk and chocolates contain sugars.

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