Psychological functions of Food
Psychological functions of Food —
- Food not only fulfills our physical requirements but also gives psychological satisfaction. For the fulfillment of our daily requirements, only presence of nutritive elements in our body is not enough but also the quantity of food, choice of food, properly cooked food and a good environment while eating is also essential. In this manner not only our hunger is satisfied but we feel contented too. We must have experienced that the food we eat daily also gives us mental satisfaction. A person belonging to north India who likes to eat wheat would not like eating rice or Idli¬dosa for long. New food items are good for a change but then we like to eat food that we normally eat. Food also gives us relief from daily grid and tension. The delight of home¬made food is incomparable to the food from hotel or restaurant. This is so because there is love, sentiment, affection attached. It is prepared keeping in mind the choice of every individual of the famly.
Food helps in following psychological functions:
- Expression of emotions through food—Emotions are expressed through food. A happy person eats more while an unhappy one eats less. Some people eat more to relieve their stress while some eat less.
- As a form of security—Food is a symbol of security. If a person is away from home or is travelling if he gets familiar food he experiences a sense of security. Food fed by mother gives more protection than the case when it is provided by someone else. A child doesn’t feel happy when someone other than his mother feeds him.
- Use of food as power— History has been witness to many examples where food was used as form of power. Keeping enemies away from food was the easiest way to win a battle. A person is kept hungry to make him confess something. ‘Hunger strike’ is a common way of protest against any institution. Even in families food is used as a means of reward and punishment. Children are rewarded with special dishes on commendable work while they are refrained from eating their favourite food such as ice-cream as a form of punishment.
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Important Points of Interrelationship Between Nutrition , Food and Health :-
- Air, water and food are 3 basic requirements for survival.
- Water included as a nutrient because it is essential for various activities of the body, for mainly proper balance and regulation of body temperature.
- All cereals like rice, wheat, maize, barley, millets, etc are main sources of carbohydrates.
- One gram fat gives 9 kilocalories. Ghee, oil, groundnuts, vegetable ghee, mustard oil, other oilseeds contain fat in adequate quantities.
- Protein is essential for cell formation and so, protein is known as ‘formative element’.
- Vitamins give body the strength to fight against diseases and thus consumption of vitamin-rich food is very important.
- 65% of our body is made of water.
- Carbohydrate should be 60-70% of our food while fat should be 20-30% and protein- 10¬15%.
- Food as far as possible should be prepared keeping in mind every choice of every member of the fovily.
- Food is just not a thing for eating but is a medium of displaying emotions, traditions and culture.
Interrelationship Between Nutrition , Food and Health Questions and Answers :-
(i) The main source of energy is:-
(a) Carbohydrates
(b) Protein
(c) Vitamin
(d) Water
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Answer :- A
(ii) Which of the following is not a physical function of food—
(a) Energy providing
(b) Growth and development
(c) Providing peace
(d) Protective and regulatory functions
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Answer :- C
3. Which of the following is formative element?
(a) Carbohydrates
(b) Protein
(c) Water
(d) Fat
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Answer :- B
(iv) What % of water is present in human body?
(a) 65%
(b) 67%
(c) 63%
(d) 64%
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Answer :- A