Class 6 Biology Component of Food Introduction

Introduction

What we eat in our day to day life to provide energy to our body is called food.

People in different parts of our country eat different kind of food.

For example: In northern part of Indiachapattis, dal, vegetables like brinjal, lady’s finger, potato, etc. were eaten. Whereas in southern part of India
rice, sambhar, uttapam, etc. were eaten, this is due to the availability of food in that particular area.
Other items like fermented food for example: curd, idli, dosaand dish of meat, chicken, fish are also eaten.
Class 6 Biology Component of Food Components of food
Components of food

Whatever food we eat is made up of more than one component taken from plants or animals.

Food should contain such type of component which provides nourishment to our body and should be responsible for the growth and development
of our body. These components are called nutrients.

Energy giving nutrient: Carbohydrate and fat

Body building nutrient: Protein

Nutrient protect body from disease: Vitamins

Nutrient needed for growth and maintenance: Minerals

Class 6 Biology Component of Food Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate is the main component of food. It provides us energy in the form of glucose.

Carbohydrates found in starch and sugar containing food items. For example: potato, rice, bread, sugary drinks like fruit juices, wheat etc.

Test of starch: To test the carbohydrate in food we need the diluted iodine solution.

Take raw peeled potato slice and add 2-3 drops of dilute iodine solution.

You will find the color changes from orange to blue-black this shows the presence of starch.
Class 6 Biology Component of Food Fat
Fat

Fat also provide energy to our body more than carbohydrate.

Fat may also be hazardous to our health. It can cause high cholesterol and heart diseases.

Ghee, cheese, butter, oil, cream are some food items containing fat.

Test of Fat: To test the presence of fat, take a piece of butter on a paper rub it at the center.

You will observe the oily patch on the paper. This oily patch is fat.
Class 6 Biology Component of Food Protein
Protein

Our body use to build and repair tissues for which body needs proteins.

Nails, hairs, skin, muscles and blood all are made up of proteins.

Egg, meat, fish, oats, dal, almond, milk, yogurt are some rich source of protein.

Test of Protein: To test protein in food we need solution of copper sulphate and caustic soda.

Grind the food sample finely (for example: almonds). Put it in clean test tube and add 10 drops of water.

Using a dropper add 2 drops of copper sulphate solution. Shake it well.

Then add 10 drops of caustic soda solution. Shake it well.

Violet color indicates the presence of proteins.

Class 6 Biology Component of Food Vitamins
Vitamins

Vitamins are needed for growth and development. It also provides immunity (body’s defense mechanism to fight against diseases) to our body

Vitamins Benefits Rich source

Vitamin A Good for our skin, hair and eyes carrot, sweet potato

Vitamin C Good for immunity Found in citrus fruits like lemon,

orange, tomato

Vitamin D Helps our body to use calcium for · Our body makes Vit. D in the
bones and teeth presence of sunlight of its own.

· We need calcium from

external source.

Vitamin E Good for our vision Found in almonds, peanuts

Vitamin K Good for our blood Found in spinach, broccoli

There are group of vitamin called Vitamin B- complex.

Containing group of 8 Vitamins Vit.B1, Vit.B2, Vit.B3, Vit.B5, Vit.B6, Vit.B7, Vit. B9 and Vit.B12.

The B vitamins play an important role in cell metabolism.

Class 6 Biology Component of Food Minerals
Minerals

Minerals were needed in traces amount, but is essential component as well.

Minerals are necessary for building proper growth and maintenance of our body.

Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, zinc are some essential minerals for our body.
Class 6 Biology Component of Food Balanced Diet
Balanced Diet

The food that a person eats in a day is calleddiet.

Balanced diet is the diet which contains all kinds of essential nutrients in right amount needed for proper growth and maintenance of our body.
Also our diet should contain roughage (raw uncooked vegetables)and water.

Balanced diet depends on the age and the type of physical work we do.

For example: an athlete would consume more amount of carbohydrate to gain more energy, an old age person would consume food which can be
easily digestible.
Most of the vegetables and fruits skin contain good amount of vitamins and minerals.

Continuous washing, boiling or overcooking vegetables would loss many nutrients present in them.
Class 6 Biology Component of Food Obesity
Obesity

Fat contains more amount of energy than carbohydrates. But continuous intake of fat would cause deposition of fat in our body.

Obesity is an excess accumulation of fat in our body.

Most of the junk food and oily food contains lots of fats. One should utilize the fat in the form of physical energy to balance the body.
Class 6 Biology Component of Food Deficiency Diseases
Deficiency Diseases

Disease caused due to deficiency of particular nutrients or minerals in our diet for a long period of time is calleddeficiency diseases.

This deficiency could be of one or more nutrients. This would affect skin, hair, face, eyes, bones, teeth, growth of particular person.

This deficiency can be overcome by taking balanced diet. If a person is deficient of both carbohydrate and protein this would lead to make that
person very thin and weak.
Deficiency of vitamins is shown in table

Vitamins Disease Symptoms

Vitamin A Night blindness Poor vision or no vision

at night

Vitamin B1 Beri-Beri Nervousness,

paralysis, weak
muscles

Vitamin C Scurvy Bleeding gums, late

healing of wound

Vitamin D Rickets Weak bones, decaying

teeth

Vitamin K hemorrhage Clotting of blood

affected

Deficiency of minerals shown in table

Minerals Disease Symptoms

Calcium /phosphorus Bone and tooth decay Weak bone, tooth

decay

Iodine Goiter Glands in the neck get

swollen

Iron Anaemia Decrease in the

production of RBC
causes weakness.