Foods

Foods

Task 1. Before reading the text practice the following words. Translate them

yield [jiːld] carbohydrate [ˌkɑːbə'haɪdreɪt] deficiency [dɪ'fɪʃ(ə)n(t)sɪ]

oxidation [ˌɔksɪ'deɪʃ(ə)n] protein ['prəutiːn] liver ['lɪvə]

kinetic [kɪne̱tɪk] accessory [ək'ses(ə)rɪ] sodium ['səudɪəm]

adipose ['ædɪpəus] phosphorous ['fɔsf(ə)rəs] ascorbic acid [æskɔ͟ː(r)bɪk æ̱sɪd]

Foods are substances which when taking into the body yield energy on oxidation, build new tissue, repair old tissue and play an essential role in growth and nutrition. We know the oxidation of foods produces heat thus maintaining the body temperature and providing kinetic energy for work. Supplying bodily heat and energy and leaving waste materials behind the food is “burned up” in combination with the oxygen to be furnished by the air we breathe.

Scientists have studied the problem of food classification for many years. Foods are to be divided into two general classes. These are inorganic and organic foods. The former class includes inorganic salts and water. The latter class includes carbohydrates, fats and proteins. There are accessory foodstuffs called vitamins which are essential to growth and freedom from deficiency diseases.

Composition of foods:

Water Salts Vitamins

Fats

Carbohydrates

Proteins

The overall composition of the body is about 59 per cent water, 18 per cent protein, 18 per cent fat and 4.3 per cent minerals. At any time, there is less than 1 per cent carbohydrate in the make-up of the body. These substances which make up the body are not distributed equally in all organs. For example, the percentage of water varies from 90-92 per cent in blood plasma to 72-78 per cent in muscles, 45 per cent in bones and only 5 per cent in tooth enamel. Proteins are found most abundantly in muscles. Fat is concentrated in the adipose (fat) cells under the skin and around the intestines. Carbohydrates are found mainly in the liver, muscles and blood. Carbohydrates are known as the chief source of energy. The absence of carbohydrates upsets the fat and protein metabolism. As for the minerals, high levels of calcium and phosphorous form part of the bones and teeth, sodium are found mainly in the body fluids (blood plasma and lymph), potassium is the main mineral in muscles, iron is essential to red blood cells, and magnesium is found throughout the body. There are the main minerals to be supplied to the body as food but many other minerals are essential to the human body in proportionally smaller amounts. They too must be ingested with our food. Other types of food (vitamins) needed in very small amounts for various functions of the body are essential.

You determine how you will feel throughout each day by the type of breakfast you eat. Your breakfast establishes how readily your body can produce energy that day or, more specifically, the amount of sugar in your blood. Your energy production, which corresponds to the quality of sugar available, determines how you think, act and feel. Energy is produced in your body when sugar alone or sugar and fat together are burned (oxidized).

It should be noted, sixty more nutrients are needed to build health. For example, cheese is an excellent source of protein but is largely lacking in carbohydrate. Black currents provide a rich source of ascorbic acid though they make little contribution to the calorie intake of the body. Milk we usually use is regarded as the most excellent food, for it contains much protein but little sugar.

Therefore, it is necessary to select a well-balanced diet containing all the essential nutritional substances to maintain health and to prevent illness.

After-reading tasks

Task 2. Give English equivalents:

1. поддерживать температуру тела 11) плазма крови, лимфа

2. органическая и неорганическая еда 12) нарушать метаболизм

3. авитаминоз 13) различные функции организма

4. необходимы для роста 14) количество сахара в крови

5. углеводы, жиры и белки 15) поступать с пищей

6. процентное соотношение воды 16) необходимы в малом количестве

7. накапливаться в жировых клетках 17) отличный источник белка

8. печень, мышцы, кровь 18) нехватка углеводов

9. основной источник энергии 19) аскорбиновая кислота

10. кальций, калий, натрий, магний 20) содержать все необходимые

питательные вещества

Task 3. Guess the word according to its definition. The answers are in the

table, two of them are extra:

carbohydrate kinetic adipose enamel organic liver oxidation plasma intestine nutrient oxygen lymph

1. the process or result of oxidizing or being oxidized –

2. a colourless, odourless reactive gas, the chemical element of atomic number 8 and the life-supporting component of the air -

3. relating to or derived from living matter –

4. a large organ in your body which processes your blood and helps to clean unwanted substances out of it -

5. used for the storage of fat –

6. the clear liquid part of blood which contains the blood cells –

7. the hard glossy substance that covers the crown of a tooth –

8. substances, found in certain kinds of food, that provide you with energy –

9. the whole alimentary canal from the mouth downward –

10. a colourless fluid containing white blood cells, which bathes the tissues and drains through the lymphatic system into the bloodstream –

Task 4. Complete the sentences:

1) Foods are to be divided into two general classes: … and …

2) Inorganic class includes …

3) Organic class includes …

4) The overall composition of the body is …

5) Fat is concentrated mainly in …

6) The absence of carbohydrates upsets …

7) Foods are substances which when taken into the body …

8) Energy is produced in your body when …

9) Carbohydrates are found mainly in …

10) Milk is the most excellent food because …