General Knowledge for CLAT : Balanced Diet

General Knowledge for CLAT: Balanced Diet

The components of food are: Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Minerals, Vitamins, Water and Roughage.
If all the components are present in optimum proportions and quantity for maintaining the body in perfect state of health, activity and development than the food is called balanced diet.

CARBOHYDRATES

Constitutes 3 elements: Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen.
Daily requirement is 500 gms. 1 gm gives 17 KJ of energy.
The carbohydrates of the food eaten, after being processed in the alimentary canal and liver, are supplied to the tissues mainly as glucose, often called blood sugar.
Sources: 3 main cereals (wheat, rice and maize), sugar cane, milk, fruits, honey, beet, etc.
They are 3 types: Cellulose, Starch and sugar.
Structrually, carbohydrates are of 3 types: Monosaccharides, Disaccharides and Polysaccharides.
Excess carbohydrate is stored in the liver in the form of glycogen.

FATS

Provides twice the energy of carbohydrates (1 gm provides 37 KJ of energy).
Acts as the reserve food material because excess fat is stored in the liver and as adipose tissue.
An enzyme called Lipase digests fats. It breaks down into fatty acids and glycerol.
Daily requirement: 50 gms.

PROTEINS

Made up of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen.
Important for growth and repair of the body.
Made up of amino acids.
Kwashiorkar and Marasmus are the diseases which occur due to deficiency of protein.

MINERALS

Mineral MACRO ELEMENTS	Sources	Signiflcance	Effects of deficiency
Calcium (Ca)^#	Milk, cereals, cheese, green vegetables	Required for formation of teeth and bones, blood clotting, functions of nerves and muscles	Weak teeth and bones: retarded body growth
Phosphorus (P)	Milk, meat, cereals	Required for formation of teeth and bones and acid-base balance: component of ATP, DNA,RNA	Weak teeth and bones: retarded body growth and physiology
Sulphur (S)	Many proteins of food	Component of many amino acids	Disturbed protein metabolism.
Potassium (K)	Meat, milk, cereals, fruits and vegetables	Required for acid-base balance, water regulation and function of nerves	Low blood pressure, weak muscles: risk of paralysis
Chlorine (C)	Table salt	Required for acid-base balance: component of gastric juice	Loss of appetite, muscle cramps
Sodium (Na)	Table salt	Required for acid-base and water balance and nervous functions	Low blood pressure, Loss of appetite: muscle cramps
Magnesium (Mg)	Cereals, green vegetables	Co-factor of many enzymes of glycolysis and a number of other metabolic reactions dependent upon ATP	Irregularities of metabolism principally affecting nervous functions
Iron (Fe)	Meat, eggs, cereals, green, vegetables	Component of haemoglobin and cytochromes	Anaemia, weakness and weak immunity
Iodine (I)	Milk, cheese, sea food, iodized salt	Important component thyroxine hormone	Goitre, Cretinism

VITAMINS

Necessary for normal growth, good health, good vision, proper digestion, etc. They do not provide energy to our body.
Vitamins can be divided into two categories.
Water-soluble: Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C.
Fat-soluble: Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K.

TYPES OF VITAMINS

Vitamin	Chemical Name	Properties	Deficiency Disease
A	Retinol	General health giving vitamin, can be stored in liver	Night blindness
B₁	Thiamine	For growth, carbohydrate metabolism, functioning of heart	Beri-Beri
B₂	Riboflavin	For keeping skin and mouth healthy	Cheilosis
B₅	Niacin	For healthy skin, sound mental health	Pellagra
B₆	Pyridoxine	Processing of proteins and for nervous system	Convulsions in child
B₁₂	Cynacobalamin	Required for formation and maturation of RBCs	Pernicious anaemia
C	Ascorbic Acid	For keeping teeth, gums and joints healthy. Gets destroyed on heating	Scurvy
D	Calciferol	For normal bones and teeth, can be stored in liver	Rickets
E	Tocopherol	For normal reproduction, removes scars and wrinkles	Sterility
K	Phylloquinone	For normal clotting of blood	Haemophilia