To understand human anatomy, one must take into account the food that we eat. Food is any material consumed with the intent to give nutrition to an organisms within the gastrointestinal tract. The more complex a food is, the higher the nutrient content and therefore the more calories it has. Generally, food is generally of animal, plant or fungi origin, and includes essential nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals.

Plants are classified according to the groups: carbohydrate, protein, fat, mineral and vitamins. Carbohydrate foods include all those that can be digested easily by the body and are rich in starch, such as starchy fruits and vegetables; breads and cereals; beans; legumes and nuts. Protein is the primary component of meat and other animal products. The fat that is obtained from poultry, fish and other seafood is not considered as a carbohydrate, but rather a source of energy. Mineral foods include those that have a high content of certain nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Fats consist of triglycerides, polyunsaturated acids, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids. Saturated fats are mostly found in fatty foods like oil and butter. Monounsaturated fats are found in nuts, avocados, seeds, hemp oil, canola, some tropical oils, safflower oils, soybeans, palm nuts, peanut butter, safflower oils, hemp seeds and other nuts. Polyunsaturated fats occur naturally in some nuts, seeds, vegetables, dairy products and other foods, but are better avoided since they contain high levels of fat.

The digestion process allows fats to become partially digested and then absorbed by the body. The fat that is not properly absorbed may lead to the building up of fatty deposits around the intestinal wall. Vitamins and minerals are then not absorbed properly or used by the body. In order for the body to absorb nutrients in a proper manner, it is important that the food source is nutritious, as well as the right proportions of nutrients and other compounds.

Fatty foods increase the risk of heart diseases and promote the accumulation of fat in the body. Many people need to consider changing their food groups to include more healthy choices if they want to maintain a healthy weight. People who eat a lot of fast food, heavily processed foods, deep fried items and candy are at a higher risk of developing health problems, even if they do not develop diabetes. People need to focus on eating several small meals per day rather than three large meals.

It is also necessary to eat several different types of foods if one wants to lose weight. Vegetables and fruits should be the primary group of foods. Some people can only stick with vegetables and avoid meat, but this is not always possible. When cooking vegetables, do not overcook them. When eating meat, make sure it is lean and not too fatty. Different types of meat have different nutritional benefits, so try different types of meat to find which ones will help you to lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight.