The Four Biggest Food Types

The word food has different meanings to different people. To some, food is the food we eat; to others, food is a beverage that is consumed with the meal. Still, others think of food as the fuel that keeps us going. No matter what your definition is of food, there are certain foods that I would recommend to keep your body going strong:

Let’s start with the basics. Real food is any food containing primary ingredients that are nutritious, such as protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, or other nutrients. Real food is not necessarily food that comes in a container or package. Instead, real food is food that is consumed and digested without being subjected to excessive amounts of processing or introduction of preservatives, artificial coloring and flavoring, and artificial sweeteners. In other words, real food is whole foods that have been cultivated and harvested from natural sources without the aid of chemicals, additives, or unhealthy fats.

In addition, real food generally has a reasonable amount of saturated fat and trans fats. Saturated fats are those found in fatty meats, butter, mayonnaise, oil, and margarine; trans fats are those found in chips, cookies, crackers, potato chips, etc., and in other foods that are fried (such as bacon, hot dogs, and pastrami) or that are canned or processed (such as sausages, lunch meats, sausage, hot dogs, nuts, and peanut butter). An appropriate amount of saturated fat and trans fat are usually less than 0.5 grams per day for men, and less than 0.4 grams per day for women.

Another important food group is fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are among the most nutrient-dense forms of food available to us. As a result, they are excellent dietary choices, particularly for individuals who are looking to lose weight. Among fruits and vegetables, broccoli is king, with over one hundred servings per person on the U.S. diet, and all of them have good-for-your-health characteristics.

Lastly, another group of food that is underrated by most people is carbohydrates. We often think that carbohydrates are bad for us because they make us hungry and leads to overeating. However, carbohydrates provide many essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and even energy, which make them great additions to a healthy diet. Unlike fats and trans fats, carbohydrates are not easily converted into body fat, which means that consuming carbohydrates keeps your body from using fat as a source of energy. Additionally, carbohydrates can also be complex or simple, depending on their type. For example, bread contains complex carbohydrates while fruits and vegetables have simple carbohydrates.

Finally, dairy products are an important nutrient group. Milk is a good example of this. People often think that milk is high in fats, but milk actually provides important nutrients that can improve your health. For example, it contains calcium, an important mineral that helps strengthen bones and prevents osteoporosis, which is a common cause of joint pain. Cheese is similar. It contains protein and calcium, both of which are important nutrients that protect against heart disease and osteoporosis.