Class-VI

COMPONENT OF FOOD
CHAPTER

INTRODUCTION : (iii) Protective food : Vitamins & minerals,

Food is one of the most basic eg. vegetables, fruits, milk, etc.
requirements of life. Food supplies us BASIC CONSTITUENTS OF FOOD
with energy. It is also required for growth (a) Carbohydrates :
and maintenance of the body. It also Carbohydrates are organic compounds of
protects us from diseases. carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
COMPONENTS OF FOOD • They are the main source of energy in our
Food contain various chemical substances body.
required byour body.These chemical • One gram of carbohydrate yields about 4
substances are called nutrients. Our body kilocalories of heat energy.
needs some of these nutrients in larger • A major portion of our food consists of
quantities ad some in only very small carbohydrates, e.g., rice, chapatis.
quantity. • If excess amount of carbohydrates are
These nutrients can be broadly grouped present in the body, they are converted
into the following seven classes. into fats and stored under the skin and
1. Carbohydrates 2. Fats around various organs of the body.
3. Proteins 4. Vitamins • The carbohydrates in our food are
5. Minerals 6. Water obtained mainly from the plant sources
7. Roughage like wheat, rice, maize, potato etc.
BALANCED DIET • Starch and sugars are the two
• A balanced diet is one which provides carbohydrates which provide most of the
proper amount and proportion of fats, energy to our body.
carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and (b) Fats :
minerals, needed for the growth and • Fats are composed of carbon, hydrogen
maintenance of the body. A balanced diet and oxygen.
should have three main qualities : • They have a lower oxygen content than
1. It should be rich in essential nutrients carbohydrates.
like minerals and vitamins. • They are very important sources of
2. It should provide the exact amount of energy.
raw materials needed for growth, • One gram of fat yields 9 kilocalories of
development, repair and replacement energy.
of body tissues. • A layer of fat under the skin helps to
3. It should provide the right amount of reduce the amount of heat loss from the
energy required by the body. body in cold weather conditions.
CLASSIFICATION OF FOOD • Every fat molecule consists of three
• Food can be classified under three molecules of fatty acids and one molecule
different categories on the basis of its of glycerol.
functions: • Fats are insoluble in water but soluble in
(i) Energy giving food : Carbohydrates organic solvents like alcohol, ether,
and fats, eg. cereals, sugars, oils, etc. benzene, etc.
(ii) Body building food : Proteins, • Fats are supplied to our body by different
minerals and fats, eg. pulses, beans, foods like butter, ghee, cheese, ground-
milk, fish, etc. nut etc. All the cooking oils (like
SANSKAR FOUNDATION CLASSES, SIKAR (9413344262) Biology-Component of Food 1
 class - vi
ground-nut oil, coconut oil) provide us • These are obtained from fruits, cod liver
fats. etc.
• They keep the body healthy and prevent it
• Fats also help in forming of cell from diseases. If the diet does not contain
membranes and other organelles. the required amount of vitamins, it results
• They help in transportation of fat-soluble in vitamin deficiency diseases.
vitamins in our body. (e) Minerals :
(c) Proteins : • Human body requires about fifteen
The name protein was coined by different kinds of minerals, e.g.-
Berzelius in 1838. • Calcium and phosphorus are needed for
• Chemically proteins are polymers of the growth of bones and teeth.
molecular units called as amino acids. • Iron is needed for the formation of
• The amino acids are linked together by a haemoglobin in blood.
peptide bonds. There are about 20 amino • Iodine, sodium, potassium and zinc are
acids that take part in the formation of necessary for a good healthy body.
proteins. The 20 amino acids are further • Meat, eggs, milk, green vegetables and
divided into two groups : fruits are rich in minerals.
• Essential amino acids : They are 10 in • Minerals are required by the body in trace
number. They are not synthesized in a amounts and are essential for growth,
human body and are obtained from food repair and replacement processes. They
so they are called as essential amino form a major part of many body
acids. e.g., Methionine, Leucine and chemicals and tissues.
tryptophan. (f) Roughage :
• Non–essential amino acids : They are also Cellulose forms the fibre content in food
10 in number. They are synthesized in a and that fibre content is called roughage.
human body & are thus termed as non – Roughage keeps the digestive system in
essential amino acids. e.g., Alanine, good working condition.
Asparagine, Aspartic acid and cystine. • It is a plant fibre found in vegetables,
• Pulses, peas, beans, nuts, cheese, milk are fruits, peas, beans, maize and in the barn
the important sources of proteins. which surrounds wheat grains.
• They act as a structural components of • It absorbs water and poisonous waste
cell. They are essential for growth and from food during digestion. Food without
repair of the body. roughage forms hard dry lumps of waste
• They help to catalyse various reactions which get stuck in the gut causing
occuring in our body. constipation.
• They play important roles as hormones, (g) Water :
antibodies, etc. The human body contains 70% of water.
• All the enzymes are made up of proteins. It has no food value but it is still one of
• Haemoglobin, the respiratory pigment of the essential components of living matter.
animals is a conjugated protein composed • Water performs the following functions in
of globin and haem(pigment). our body:
(d) Vitamins : • It transports food materialswithin the
Vitamins are organic compounds body.
essential for the growth of the body.They • It helps in the formation of urine and
are required by the body in very small faeces.
quantities. Vitamins are classified into • It regulates the body temperature.
two types. • It is an essential part of blood and
(A) Fat soluble Vitamins A, D, E, K. digestive juices.
(B) Water solubleVitaminsBandC.
SANSKAR FOUNDATION CLASSES, SIKAR (9413344262) Biology-Component of Food 2
 class - vi
TEST FOR CARBOHYDRATES, FATS & diet. It is for this reason that the children
PROTEINS are often advised to take a protein-rich
(a) Test for carbohydrates : diet–enough milk, pulses, eggs, meat and
Take few drops of iodine solution & add fish,
it into boiled rice or potato. The formation • Symptoms of Kwashiorkor
of blue-black colour confirms the (i) Protruding belly
presence of starch (carbohydrate). (ii) Dark and scaly skin, brownish hair
(b) Test for fats : (iii) Stunted growth ; usually underweight
When ghee/butter rubbed on white paper, (iv) Swollen legs due to accumulation of
that portion of paper turns translucent water
indicating the presence of fats. (v) Loss of appetite (vi) Anaemia
(c) Test for proteins : (vii) Mental retardation
Take the few drops of egg albumin in a (viii) Reduced resistance to diseases
test tube and add a few drops of Brownish hair
concentrated nitric acid to it. Mild anaemia
• The white colour of the albumin changes
to yellow. Now, pour the acid out of the
Protruding belly
test tube but keep the white of the egg in
the test tube. Swollen leg
• Add a few drops of ammonium hydroxide
to it.
• The colour changes to violet which shows Fig : Infant suffering from kwashiorkor
the presence of proteins.
• Symptoms of Marasmus
DEFICIENCY DISEASES (i) Poor muscle development
The main cause of deficiency diseases in (ii) Bones showing through the skin ; no fat
our country is poverty. A vast majority of (iii) Weak legs (iv) Loss of appetite
our people are not able to buy quality food (v) Anaemia (vi) Grossly under weight
items in desired quantities. In the long run (vii) Mental retardation
they become weak and sick. Its effect on (viii) Reduced resistance to diseases
children is more serious.
Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is a
Diseases due to Deficiency of
term used to describe diets which lack
Carbohydrates:
proteins and energy giving
Carbohydrates are the chief sources of
carbohydrates. Diseases caused by PEM
energy for the body. This energy is used
are common among children.
by the body for performing various
functions. Deficiency of sufficient
carbohydrates in the diet leads to (i) body
weakness, and (ii) loss of stamina, as
sufficient quantity of energy is not
available to the body for performing
various functions.
Diseases due to deficiency of Protein :
Proteins are body-building food and Fig. : Marasmic child Fig.:Characteristics of a
causes serious diseases, like kwashiorkor marasmic child
and marasmus develop in case of children • Kwashiorkor and marasmus are diseases
if the proteins are not sufficient in their which result from PEM.

SANSKAR FOUNDATION CLASSES, SIKAR (9413344262) Biology-Component of Food 3

 class - vi
Vitamin/Mineral Deficiency disease/disorder Symptoms
Vitamin - A (Retinol) Night blindness Poor vision in dark
Vitamin - B1 (Thiamine) Beri-Beri Weak muscles & very little energy to
work.
Vitamin - C (Ascorbic acid) Scurvy Bleeding gums.
Vitamin -D (Calciferol) Rickets Bones become soft & bent.
Vitamin - E (Tocoferol) Infertility Low production of sperm or ova.
Vitamin - K (Phylloquinone) Clotting time delayed Bleeding time exceed.
Calcium Bone and tooth decay Weak bones & tooth decay
Iodine Goitre Glands in the neck appear swollen,
mental disability in children.
Iron Anaemia Weakness.

SANSKAR FOUNDATION CLASSES, SIKAR (9413344262) Biology-Component of Food 4

 class - vi
-: Exercise :-
1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words: (viii) Protein is a staple food.
(i) For proper __________ and __________ our (ix) Haemoglobin is a carbohydrate.
body needs adequate food. (x) Cotton and paper are carbohydrates.
(ii) Proteins build __________material. (xi) Tomatoes contain vitaminC.
(iii) Non-living machines burn the fuel at (xii) Eating lady's finger makes you good in
__________ temperature while living mathematics.
machines burn their food at __________
temperature. 3. Match the following items given in
(iv) Starch is a __________ of sugar. Column A with that in Column B:
(v) __________ gives blue colour with iodine.
(vi) Proteins are made up of __________ . Column A Column B
(vii) Skin, hair and nails are __________ . (a) Energy giving (i) Vitamins and
(viii) Co-enzymes are nothing but __________ . food minerals
(ix) Vitamin C causes __________when found (b) Body building (ii) Iodine
deficient. food
(x) Our body contains __________ of water. (c) Protective food (iii) Fats,
(xi) Most of the reactions in our body occur in carbohydrates
__________ solutions. (d) Test for fat (iv) Copper
(xii) Balanced diet is one containing all sulphate and caustic
__________ soda
(xiii) An average person should drink (e) Test for starch (v) Oily patch on
__________ glasses of water daily. paper sheet
(xiv) Deficiency of __________ causes rough (f) Test for protein (vi) Proteins
skin, weak eye sight and thinness of body.
(xv) Excess intake of __________ over a large -: MCQ questions :-
period may damage kidneys.
(xvi) Lack of __________ leads to lethargy, 1. The food components needed by our body
inactivity and feeling of tiredness. are called
(xvii) Intake of inadequate quantities of proteins (1) ingredients (2)nutrients
may__________ the growth and (3) fragments (4) ornaments
development of children. 2. Carbohydrates can be tested by
(1) iodine solution (2) caustic soda
2. State whether the statements given below (3) copper sulphate (4) fehling solution
are True or False: 3. Which one of the following is an energy
(i) Deficiency of vitamin A makes our giving component ?
bonesweak. (1) Protein
(ii) Deficiency of iron causes paleness. (2) Vitamins and minerals
(iii)Calcium is necessary for strong bones and (3) Roughage
teeth. (4) Carbohydrates and fats
(iv) Deficiency of vitamin B helps to increase 4. Vitamins and minerals are
our appetite. (1) protective food
(v) Deficiency of vitamin D causes swollen and (2) energy giving food
bleeding gums. (3) body building food (4) roughage
(vi) Carbohydrates are the main source of energy 5. Roughage helps in
in our diet. (1) protecting our body from diseases
(vii) Expensive food is not always the best food. (2) movement of bowl

SANSKAR FOUNDATION CLASSES, SIKAR (9413344262) Biology-Component of Food 5

 class - vi
(3) providing energy 8. All the deficiency diseases can be prevented
(4) building and repair of various body parts by
6. Scurvy is caused due to the deficiency of (1) cleanliness
(1) vitaminA (2) vitamin B (2) taking medicine at proper time
(3) vitaminC (4) vitaminD (3) vaccination
7. Diseases caused due to the deficiency of (4) taking balanced diet
vitamins are known as 9. Which of the following food items contains
(1) dietary diseases carbohydrates ?
(2) cronic diseases (1) Rice (2) Gram
(3) deficiency diseases (3) Cabbage (4) Pulses
(4) transmitted diseases 10. Night blindness is caused due to deficiency
of
(1) vitamin A (2) vitamin B
(3) vitamin C (4) vitamin D

SANSKAR FOUNDATION CLASSES, SIKAR (9413344262) Biology-Component of Food 6