Non-Nutritive Components of Diet

Nutrition is the most significant aspect of our lifestyle since it reflects physical and mental health. A healthy diet provides several benefits and promotes a sense of well-being. While on a diet, you must consider various aspects, such as the amount of food consumed, the type of food consumed, the calories consumed, and so on. Food comes in many forms, but understanding what to eat is crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A well-defined diet is divided into nutritive and non-nutritive parts, contributing to overall health. 

What are the Nutritive and Non-nutritive Components of a Diet?

Nutritive components of food are those elements that provide a considerable quantity of energy to the system, such as protein, carbohydrates, and fats, all of which are essential to the body. It doesn’t imply that non-nutritive components aren’t necessary; however, they don’t comprise the same nutritional substances that nutritive components have. 

Nutritive Components of a Diet

Vitamins and Minerals

• Vitamins are essential for blood in tiny amounts but must be ingested
• There are two sorts of vitamins
• They don’t give energy but aid in maintaining numerous tissues in our bodies

Vitamin B and C are water-soluble vitamins, whereas vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K are fat-soluble.

Minerals are needed in modest amounts by our bodies, yet they are just as significant as some other nutrients in body healthy development. Iron, calcium, sodium chloride, iodine, and other essential minerals are needed by the body.

Non-Nutritive Components of Diet

Non-nutritive components of the diet are those components that do not have any nutritional value but are nonetheless necessary for the body in tiny quantities. Vitamins, minerals, roughage, and water are some such components. Several non-nutritive components that have only lately been found should be avoided. There might be hundreds of phytochemicals in one’s diet that can cause harm. 

The non-nutritive components of the diet are:

Fibre or Roughage

Fibre, often known as roughage, is a non-nutritive component of a diet that has little nutritional benefit. It’s the part of the meal that hasn’t been digested or that can’t be ingested by the mammalian gut. It is made of water and adds bulk to meals to aid the digestive process. Soluble and insoluble fibres are two types of fibre. Insoluble fibres do not dissolve in water, while soluble fibres do. Soluble fibre decreases cholesterol and lowers blood sugar fluctuations. Insoluble fibre softens your faeces. Fibre is beneficial in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and avoiding the development of some cancers. Some rich sources are roots, vegetables, oats, fresh fruits, etc.

Water

Another non-nutritive component of the diet is water. Water is an important part of every diet. Even blood is composed of 90% water. Water in the blood aids in transferring nutrients to the body’s numerous cells. The elimination of waste materials is also aided by water. It also helps to keep the body temperature in check. Every day we compensate for this water loss by drinking water and consuming dietary ingredients. Water also serves as a lubricant, moisturises the skin, and shields the system from shock. In general, roughly 20% of water consumption comes from meals from drinking water.

Colour Compounds

The vast display of colours facilitated by pigments makes food or diet more pleasant and appealing. Fruits and vegetables have natural colours. The colours of animal products and cereals are less vibrant. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and vanilla are some of the colours obtained from fruits and vegetables.

Flavour Compounds

Flavours come from both nutritional and non-nutritive dietary components. It might be hard to ascertain the origin of a particular flavour. An acidic food has a sour flavour, whereas an alkaline dish has a bitter flavour.

Plant Compounds

Some plants include non-nutritive chemicals in complement to aroma and flavour ingredients. These compounds may have good or detrimental effects when consumed. There are a variety of chemicals that can help to prevent cancer. Plants also contain various hazardous chemicals that might cause harm if consumed in large quantities. One illustration is caffeine. If consumed in excess, it can raise heart rate, stimulate stomach acid output, and cause considerable urination.

Conclusion

Good health promotes mental development, which you can only achieve by eating the proper nutrients in the right quantities. It is vital to recognise the nutrients that your body requires not to overeat and hurt your health, even while spending your energy and money on meals that your body does not need.