In my humble opinion, one of the greatest pleasures of life is EATING (although unfortunately in Venezuela, we are even losing it).

In this sense, to enjoy life one of the good forms is: Eating; but, not so fast in this, because for our health, it is necessary to know what we should and can eat.

From this premise, the present publication is born which contains some curiosities related to the foods that we ordinarily or extraordinarily consume (and some of them that few or never we have consumed).

Curiosities of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates (carbon-hydrogen chains) are basic nutrients for the organism, because they represent the main source of energy; after being converted into glucose (blood sugar).

The organism uses this glucose as energy for cells, tissues and organs, which is why it must store the excess sugar in the blood for when its use is necessary.

Simple carbohydrates such as fructose and other types of sugar are contained in fruits, sugar cane, vegetables and milk. Complex carbohydrates such as starch are present in flours, cereals, vegetables, roots and legumes rich in starch. In a similar way, Honey is a healthier alternative to sugar for energy.

Most fruits are best eaten immediately after being peeled and exposed to light and air, to prevent their oxidation, fermentation and loss of beneficial properties; In the same way, it is better to eat them during the day and its consumption is not recommended at night, because they ferment very fast in the stomach and can cause indigestion.

Dairy products (milk and its derivatives), in addition to its multiple benefits and source of calcium, are oral cleansers, which take care of our gums and teeth due to lactic acid. Also, there are other foods that contain calcium: spinach, onion, broccoli, nuts, egg, fish and seafood.

Although it is necessary to consume carbohydrates, in the same way for a balanced diet, it is important to eat fiber and whole grains, and limit the amount of sugar consumed. Fiber is present in many fruits, vegetables, grains, popcorn, olives, pepper, and in many seeds such as peanuts, squash or pumpkin and walnut.

Curiosities of Proteins

Proteins are biomolecules formed by chains of amino acids, linked by peptide bonds; they represent almost half the weight of tissues, are present in all cells and participate in almost all biological processes.

Then, proteins are essential for growth because they contain nitrogen that is not present in other molecules such as fats or carbohydrates. In addition, they are essential for the synthesis and maintenance of tissues, organs and various components, such as gastric juices, hemoglobin, vitamins, hormones and enzymes.

Therefore, proteins are essential to consume them in the daily diet and are present in foods of animal origin such as: cattle, poultry and pork meats, fish, seafood, eggs and milk; also, they are in vegetable foods, such as: soybeans, legumes, grains and cereals.

Curiosities of the Fats

Fats are important nutrients in our daily diet; but, usually the healthiest are those of vegetable origin and the least healthy those of animal origin. They provide the medium and long-term energy required to work properly; and they are co-suvants to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K (fat-soluble vitamins).

These fats obtained from food provide essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic), which the body can not produce and malfunctions without them, because they are necessary for the development of the brain, control of inflammation and blood coagulation.

In the same way, fats are composed of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fats raise the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol. Unsaturated fats help lower LDL cholesterol.

Foods with many saturated fats are animal products: butter, margarine, lard, palm and coconut oil, cheese, whole milk, creams, pork and fatty meats. Liquid vegetable oils at room temperature have unsaturated fats (monounsaturated: olive and canola oil and polyunsaturated fats: sunflower oil, corn and soy).

Curiosities of the Vegetables

Vegetables are the healthiest foods of our daily diet, because they contain the most varied nutrients for the proper functioning of our body. Among the most important vegetables are the green ones (watercress, broccoli, cabbage, cabbage, lettuce, zucchini and spinach, among others); and the varied colors (tomato, carrot, eggplant and onion, among many others).

Of the green vegetables, it can be said that they are the best foods to prevent cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, due to their high amount of antioxidants; In addition, it is anti-inflammatory and contains betacarotene, vitamins B, C, folic acid, potassium, magnesium and fiber to strengthen the immune system.

The tomato is a fruit that is considered a colorful vegetable; It is a food that has anticancer properties, is antioxidant and provides vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K, and potassium; and it is recommended against hypertension. The carrot is good for health, as it is one of the best sources of vitamins A and C. Eggplant contains fiber and potassium, and has antioxidant properties that help protect brain and heart.

Various Curiosities of Food

.- Poppy seeds serve as a nervous relaxant and to combat stress, anxiety and depression.

.- Mix avocado with carrot is a very healthy food that can be used to replace butter and margarine.

.- The best sources of vitamin C are orange, passion fruit, tomato, lemon, pineapple, parsley, pepper, chili, paprika, broccoli and papaya, among others.

.- Pumpkin or pumpkin seeds are an extraordinary source of magnesium, zinc, omega-3, tryptophan, vitamins and antioxidants.

.- Passion fruit, ginger, saffron, fish and seafood friends of passion have aphrodisiac properties capable of awakening libido and sexual desire.

.- Green tea have beneficial properties, being a source of antioxidants, depuratives and great help for digestion.

.- Almonds and hazelnuts are excellent sources of vitamin E, important for skin care.