Why is food important

It is not easy to explain the importance of food. From one point, it is just a necessity we need in order to live, survive and perform all the activities. Another point tells us that making and serving food has become almost an art form, a ritual we all like to perform, something that makes us forget on everyday’s problems, at least for a while.

Importance

Why is food important? We are live beings, and in order to breathe, be active, procreate, invent, laugh, think, create, we need food. Food gives us much needed energy for all that we can and want to do. Since we are complex beings, we need different types of food. Food, when it comes to necessity, can be divided into several nutrients that we need, and those are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins. Carbohydrates are entering our organism in the form of glucose, because that form is optimal for entering the cells from the bloodstream. If that is not happening, then there is most likely some problem with pancreas (insulin, hormone responsible for glucose entering cells is either not produced in needed amounts, or it has some flow). Glucose can be stored in a form of glycogen in liver and in muscles. Glycogen in muscles is needed for physical activity, while glycogen deposed in liver is saved for the moments when the intake of glucose is low. And also, if the glucose levels are very high, those are accumulated in the form of fat cells, which might lead to obesity. Carbohydrates are also needed for the brain, because the brain can only use that specific nutrient type.

Protein is the next nutrient needed in our organism that comes from food, meat particularly, although there are other food types that contain proteins. Proteins are used for creating a muscle structure and are also very important. Fat is also needed, but it should be taken only for the needs of organism, because fat can be created if glucose levels are too high.

Social and cultural aspect

There are hundreds of different cultures in the world today and each and every one of them has its own culinary aspects. There are so many interesting and delicious foods that just wait for us to discover them. Even though food should just be a mass of nutrients for us to digest and move on with daily duties, meals sometimes present the only time of relaxation and time to be with family and friends.