Nutritional Facts: Percentages of Food Substance in Some Common Foods

Nutrition is the supply of materials, food required by organisms and cells to stay alive. Living things feed or take in nutrient for survival. The mode of nutrition vary from one organism to the other but each possesses features of adaptation which enable it to feed.
Nutrition is also the use of food to develop, restore and sustain our bodies, making elegant alternatives concerning the foods you eat. Appropriate nutrition also helps you grow and retain good health choice. 

Classes of Food Substances
 
1. Carbohydrates
Molecules of carbohydrate contain Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms. Carbohydrates are classified as monosaccharides, disaccharides, or polysaccharides depending on the number of monomer (sugar) units they contain. Examples of carbohydrate are potato, cassava, yam, etc. The ratio of Hydrogen to oxygen is 2:1 as in the case with water. Carbohydrates provide the body energy that is required to carry out daily activities and exercise. Other extra energy that is not use is stored in the body until it is needed.

2. Proteins
The molecules of protein consist of Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and at times Sulphur. Simple proteins (monomers) are used to produce complex protein (polymers) which build and revamp tissue.  Examples of proteins are egg-white(albumen), lean meat, fish etc. They can also supply energy as well (in the absence of carbohydrates and fats). This is done by the liver. Protein is required for building and repair of body tissues (including muscle)

3. Fats and Oils
They are also referred to as Lipids. The molecules consist of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen atoms just like carbohydrates, but of low oxygen ratio. They contain more calories of energy than carbohydrates which are not as readily available. They help in insulation of the body. Examples of Lipids are butter, groundnut, palm oil etc.

4. Water
This is the medium for chemical reactions in every living organisms. It helps in transportation as well as temperature control. It can be got in nature from streams, rivers, as rain, ocean and sea. About 70% of the non-fat mass of the human body is water. Water helps to transports oxygen and nutrients to different parts of the body, helps to removes toxins and wastes from the body, water also helps to regulates body temperature through perpetration.

Percentage of Food Substance in Some Common Food

Types of Food	Carbohydrate(%)	Protein (%)	Fat & Oil (Lipids) (%)	Water (%)
Maize	67	10	5	18
Rice	76	8	2	14
Millet	69	11	5	15
Fresh Yam	23	2	____	75
Fresh Cassava	32	1	____	67
Cassava Flour	77	2	____	21
Plantain	24	1	____	75
Orange	10	1	____	89
Tomato	4	1	____	95
Fresh Groundnut	6	13	28	53
Lima Bean	54	20	1	25
Cow Pea	54	24	1	21
Palm Oil	____	____	100	____
Fresh Pepper	6	2	1	91
Okra	6	2	____	92
Fresh Fish	____	17	3	80
Dried Fish	____	42	1	57
Lean Beef	____	18	13	69
Chicken	____	19	7	74
Eggs	1	13	11	75
Cow Milks	5	3	4	88

Those are the percentages of some common food we take. This will help us to choose our favorite food and we will know how to compile a food and make a balance diet. You can also leave your own nutritional fact by commenting on this post.