Food Groups Based On Their Function

Do you know what the official food groups are based on their features? Without a doubt, the nutrients in foods perform various functions in our body. If you want to know more about this, then this article is just for you!

Likewise, identifying the substances you ingest daily is a tool that you can use, among other things, to maintain your health and treat and prevent metabolic diseases. If you understand this, you will be able to improve your diet.

What are food groups?

Each food contains one or more nutrients: Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. In addition, they also contain water, which is vital for the body in varying amounts.

Certain components thus dominate over others in some foods, which is why international and national food guidelines have established the following food groups:

• Milk, yogurt and cheese.
• Meat and eggs.
• Fruits and vegetables.
• Oil, nuts and kernels.
• Legumes, cereals, potatoes, bread and pasta.
• Sweets and fat.

What are the functions of food?

Several studies have shown that the nutrients that make up one’s diet have energizing, structuring and restorative functions. Likewise, they also say that you need to follow a varied diet to achieve an optimal nutritional status. Below you will discover more details about the different food groups.

Foods that provide energy

Energy is the fuel that the body needs to live. All metabolic processes require it. The actions one performs on a daily basis, such as walking, moving and breathing are actually a few examples.

It is clear that you will need to eat foods to get energy. The foods that provide energy are more specifically those that contain carbohydrates, such as legumes, grains, potatoes, pasta and sweets. After eating them, the body digests and absorbs them as glucose, which is the primary source of fuel.

Fats also have this effect, as they provide twice as many calories as carbohydrates. Oils, nuts, egg yolks and kernels are also energizing foods. The latter release their fatty acids when they are crushed or ingested as oils.

Foods that build and maintain cells in the body

These foods build cellular structures and tissues. Those that have this power contain proteins. It is meat, dairy products and egg whites.

This nutrient is rich in amino acids,  which experts consider essential because the body does not produce them. You must thus consume them through your diet. In addition to being indispensable in structural syntheses, they also have other functions.

Foods of animal origin are those that stand out because of their protein content. However, that does not mean you can not get them from vegetables. There is in fact scientific evidence that grains, legumes and nuts contain this nutrient in significant amounts.

Those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet can get the recommended amounts with the help of a professional specialized in this.

Tissue formation is a vital process that should not be neglected. In fact, it requires adequate amounts of nutrients, even in restrictive diets that do not include foods of animal origin.

Regulatory and protective function

The actions of vitamins, minerals, anti-inflammatory substances and  phytochemical compounds  (active ingredients that plants produce) determine this function. The foods that contain them are fruits and vegetables.

However, you can also find them in other sources  such as iron in meat and legumes  as well as as vitamins A and D in dairy products. Although the recommended amount is lower compared to other nutrients, this does not mean that they are less important.

In short, the substances we mentioned play an important role in the body because they participate in various metabolic processes. In this regard, some prevent oxygenation of cells and repair the skin (vitamin C and E), others integrate tissues (calcium in bones and teeth), and others promote cellular reactions (zinc and magnesium).

What should one remember about food groups based on their functions?

The combination of the different food groups ensures that you will get what you need. If you follow a varied and balanced diet rich in proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, then you will contribute to your health in general.

In addition to having healthy habits, it is also advisable to avoid toxic substances such as alcohol and cigarettes. In the same way, an active and non-sedentary life also benefits the processes that the substances in your diet must perform in your body.