Importance of Food in Our Daily Life and Why its Necessary?

The importance of food for life is almost similar to the need for oxygen for living. If the lack of oxygen can kill living beings in minutes then lack of food consumption can kill them in days. Both are necessary if the person wants to continue living. The food that we consume is there to fulfill the nutritious requirements of the body. Certainly, there is a variety of food that we intake. Everyone has their preferences when it comes to food; some people are vegetarian (that means they rely on a plant-based diet for their survival) and most are omnivorous (which means they consume both plants and meat for their food). No matter what one consumes, the food should be full of nutrition that a human body requires to perform well.

Every living cell in the human body is dependent on fats, nutrients, and calories that are present in the food we consume. However, the importance of food is not only limited to sustaining life. Although it is the basic function of food and other things would not matter without serving its main function. There are various sources of food. The primary sources are plants and animals. The oil, meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, herbs, tea, chocolate, coffee, wheat, dairy, etc. are obtained from these primary sources. Not all food items are produced from plants and animals like mushrooms, they are obtained from edible fungi.

Food has become an integral part of our social lives, economy, and comfort. Here are the ways that food has become significant for us.

1) Importance of Food for Human Life

No doubt that human life is dependent upon food consumption. Without food, there is no life.

1. Food is Essential for Survival

Humans work – do various jobs and earn money – to put food on their tables. If there is no requirement of nutrients and food by our bodies, everything else does not matter. The food that we consume converts into glucose that generates by reacting with the oxygen that we inhale and water. This energy runs every body organ and cell.

2. Food and Celebrations

Food over the years has become more than just a means of survival. Humans have incorporated food in many other areas of their life. One of them is the need for food for celebrations. The importance of food in our festivals and celebrations is evident from the amount ad thought we spend on food at weddings, parties, religious festivities, and social get-togethers. Even the funerals are not devoid of food items for the people who participated. This shows the role of food in every area of our lives.

3. Food is Important for Success in Other Areas of Life

The place of food is always left in social events. It has become a source of social bonding or social activities through the years. In places where food needs are met, people move on to other areas of life like friendships, relationships, etc. Abraham Maslow in his hierarchy of life explained this concept that when the basic requirements (such as food, shelter, security) of individuals’ lives are met they then move on to other areas like forming relationships, social status, and eventually self-actualization.

4. Cultural Representation Through Food

Food is one of the main attractions of a culture. Different cultures in the world have a variety of food items that are present only in their culture. It is said that when you want to familiarize someone with your culture, the easiest and most effective way is through food. Different food items represent a different culture, history, and evolution. Many food items that have become part of various cultures are produced by wars, emergencies, and their climate. People have made these food items a part of their culture to remember and appreciate.

2) Importance of Food for Health

The food that we consume has various health benefits. These benefits are necessary for spending a healthy life.

1. Healthy Life Functions

Our bodies need to do more than just surviving. The food that we consume has different nutrients that help our bodies perform different functions. For example, dairy products contain calcium in them which is necessary for the healthy growth of bones. Meat and pulses contain protein that helps build healthy muscles. Fruits and vegetables contain different vitamins for other healthy functions of the body. All of these things help us to develop healthy bodies that can successfully perform life functions.

2. Food Develops Healthy Minds

The lack of food is deadly but not having enough food is also dangerous for us. When humans consume the right amount of nutrients through their food they not only develop healthy bodies but a healthy mind. Our brain also needs energy to perform its functions. When there is a lack of energy supply to the brain, it will not perform as well as it should have. This is why we cannot concentrate and have slower cognitive functions when we have been hungry for too long. Because the leftover energy our body has is used for survival instead of using for high brain functions.

3. Psychological Health and Food

The importance of food is not only limited to physical health but it is also important for psychological health. First, people who do not have access to enough food for their survival are too keen on getting their hands on food. In the process, they cannot focus on developing a healthy personality. Many researchers have linked hunger and poverty to increasing crime rates. The will to survive overrides the sense of morality. In other cases, people attempt suicide because they cannot suffer because of hunger and poverty. This is why, the nations that do not have to worry about their day-to-day survival, can focus on other areas of life. Moreover, many food items with different nutritious values are linked with mood, sadness, anger, etc.

3) Importance of Food for Economy

Everything people do in today’s world has an impact on the economy. Food has become a big industry in the world that can earn companies a big profit and makes a difference in the economy.

1. Agriculture Economy

The food that we consume is produced on land. Fruits and vegetables from farms, meat from animal farms, dishes from seas and farms, and other food items from crops and forests are considered agricultural produce of a country. Many countries in the world are agrarian in nature because most of their economy depends upon agriculture produces. The export of these products constitutes most of their revenue. This is why they focus on agriculture and develop new ways of maximizing the profits obtained from their agriculture.

2. Restaurant Industry

The increased culture of dining out in the past few decades has increased the number of restaurants from the past. These restaurants are important in many ways. The food products that a country produces are utilized by these restaurants in bulk. It benefits the farmers and agriculture of the country. Moreover, restaurants are a major attraction for tourists. The increasing trend of food blogging has increased the relevancy of these restaurants. These restaurants also create jobs for chefs and other staff. All of these things help the flow of money and hence improve the economy of a country.

Conclusion

In the favor of the importance of food, Hippocrates compared food with medicine – both are necessary to save lives. The food that we consume is providing our body the energy to function and nutrients for healthy function and protection against diseases. Knowledge about food is also important because some food items can cause harm to humans instead of providing benefits e.g. poisonous mushrooms. Food affects our physical and psychological health. Therefore, much emphasis is paid on food. Other than that, food has become a huge part of our culture and lives. It has also taken part in the development of a global economy. All these factors make food the highlight of our lives.