The word “food” can mean many different things to many different people, but when it comes to health there is a clear consensus. Simply put, food is any material ingested to give nutrition to organisms. In the simplest terms, food is the primary source of nutrients for your body. Food is either of animal, plant or fungi origin, and contains necessary nutrients, including vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals. Humans are not naturally born with this ability to eat, but we have always had access to food throughout our lives.
There are several factors that determine food intake and satiety. Some of these factors are physiological and a few are psychological. Physiological factors include blood glucose levels, hunger, brain stem activity, hormonal levels and physical activities. Psychological factors include memory, attention, emotional state and stress. When our bodies are confronted with a stimulus, like a stimulus such as hunger, a person’s brain typically sends a hunger signal, telling the body to eat. A person’s brain stem is also capable of saying in effect, “I need to eat” just like persons stomach.
Most people eat when they are hungry and after a certain amount of time have passed they stop eating. During a meal there are certain satiety signals that occur in the brain. One of these satiety signals is the release of hormones called neuropeptides. Neuropeptides stimulate the hunger centers in the brain and send a message to the stomach that you have had enough food. This “fullness” feeling lasts approximately two hours, but it can feel longer.
Most vegetarians and most non-vegetarians eat some type of meat at every meal. Many vegetarians find that although they don’t eat as much during the day as meat-eaters they feel fuller for longer periods of time because their bodies use the stored protein from their meals to make up for the lack of meat. Many vegetarians eat fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts and sprouts, which are high in protein and supply nutrients such as fiber, iron and other important nutrients that cannot be found in meats. Virtually all herbivores eat grains, roots and seeds during their diet, which are also high in protein but provide no other nutrients because grains and roots contain no calories.
Herbivores and Perennials Both omnivores and herbivores eat plants and animals, but the way in which they do so differs greatly. Herbivores eat to gain weight, to increase their plant and animal friends’ lives, to provide vitamins and minerals and to disguise their lack of chewing activity as they eat. Plantivores eat to feed their bodies and to improve their health and well-being by increasing nutrient intake through digestion and absorption, by replacing worn out foods with new ones, by using plant proteins and nutrients as energy and by adding vitamins and minerals to their diet.
Healthy Skin The health of our skin depends on a balanced diet. When it comes to eating healthy skin, the most important advice is to eat foods that are good for you, without damaging your skin or causing unwanted side effects. Eating fresh, whole fruits is recommended, since they contain a lot of fiber, antioxidants, enzymes and water, which keep skin looking fresh, radiant and supple. Avoid unhealthy fats such as those found in margarine and other substitute oils, as these can clog the pores and cause acne, clogged skin and inflammation. Instead, eat healthy oils such as olive oil, canola oil and other fats that are good for you and your skin.