What Types of Foods Contain Sugar?

Food is any material eaten to supply nutrition to an organisms. In its simplest form food is a vegetable or fruit that is consumed in large amounts to provide the body with energy. Food is the most important element of the human diet, supplying at least 60% of the total calories we consume each day. Food is categorized into three main groups: animal foods, plant foods, and fungi or microorganisms. Each food type has distinct characteristics of its own and how it is digested by the body.

Animal food includes meat, milk, eggs, fish and poultry. Plant food includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. Fungi or microorganisms include yeasts, moulds, bacteria and viruses. Animal food is generally nutritionally dense because the diets of animals are primarily composed of meats, milk, eggs and grains whereas plant food is generally fibrous with relatively little protein, fat and carbohydrates. With modern research and discovery, the world of food has expanded and there are many types of food readily available to us now than before.

We now have to think about how our bodies digest food. Animals have small needle-like structures called teeth, which break down the food particles into simpler compounds for easy digestion. Plants have larger teeth called oropharyngeal structures that are used to break down the tougher starches and fibers in food. Fungi and microorganisms need to consume specific enzymes to break down foods, which is why these organisms exist only in certain environments, such as soil, decaying organic material, or in the human mouth, where they digest proteins. Humans cannot manufacture enzymes, so their diets generally include a wide range of fibrous foods (such as grains, vegetables, fruits) that are broken down further by digestive processes.

All foods contain nutrients and sometimes vitamins and minerals in varying amounts. The nutritional value of foods is determined by the proportions of the various elements that they contain. Common elements that determine nutritional value are protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, and fiber. Sometimes foods are grouped according to whether they are rich in one or more of these or are a mixture of two or more. Oatmeal is often considered a complete food because it contains both carbohydrate and fiber, although the fiber content is only slightly higher than in other whole-food products.

Legumes are an example of a food group that are rich in both carbohydrate and fiber. Soybeans, peas, nuts, brown rice and other grains are examples of legume food groups. Milk is another food that is recommended to help people lose weight, although it is important to remember that some dairy foods, like milk and cheese, can also be harmful if taken in large quantities. When consumed in small quantities, milk may provide some health benefits, but it should not be relied upon as a sole food source. The fat in milk is not particularly good for people who are trying to reduce their body fat.

Cereals are also foods containing refined sugars. Most cereals have either sugar or starch as part of the main ingredients. However, some cereals, like wheat bread and pasta, are enriched with vitamins and other nutrients that make them better choices than other cereals. Whole-grain cereals are recommended to promote good nutrition. Rice is another grain that is good for people who want to eat a healthy diet.