Why Some Fruits Sweet While Others is Sour?

            Some fruits like watermelons, guavas, grapes, apples, mangoes, etc. are sweet in taste while lemons, oranges, raw mangoes, etc. are sour. Each fruit has a distinct taste, which differs in some way from the taste of others fruits. The question arises- why does every fruit have a characteristic taste?

Sweet Fruits

Sour Fruits

            In fact, the taste of a fruit depends on the compounds present in it. In general, a fruit contains fructose natural sugar, organic acids, vitamins, starch, proteins, minerals and cellulose. All these are in a mixed state inside the fruit and are found in different proportions. Fruits having more fructose content taste sweeter, while those having more acids, taste sour. Orange is a fruit, which has almost equal quantities of fructose and acids; hence it tastes both sweet and sour.

            In general, raw fruits contain more acids but on ripening, the quantity of acid in them decreases and the amount of sugar increases. Hence raw mangoes are sour, but ripe ones are sweet. Raw bananas contain more of starch, but it gets converted into fructose when the fruit ripens.

            During the process of ripening, chemical changes take place inside the fruit by which the quantity of sugar increases thus adding to the sweetness of the fruit.

            We notice a difference of taste in two fruits of the same kind. Two apples or mangoes do not always taste alike. This is so because there are many varieties of the same fruit and also the variations in the quality of soil, climate, growing technique; manure, water, etc. change the proportion of the compounds inside the fruit resulting in the difference of taste.

            Sour fruits like lemons; do not taste sweet even after they are ripe, because of the presence of excessive amounts of acids.

Vitamins and Minerals

Why do we need vitamins and minerals?

            Just as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, inorganic salts and water are the essential ingredients of our food, vitamins and minerals are also necessary to keep our body free of none. Lack or deficiency of vitamins can cause many disorders and diseases like weak digestive power, impaired eyesight, general weakness, tiredness, dryness of skin, inflammation of gums, weakening of bones, beri-beri, rickets, etc.

Foods Rich in Vitamins and Minerals

            What are vitamins? The word ‘vitamin’ was coined in 1912, and is derived form the Latin word vita, which means life. In fact, vitamins are organic materials which are found in many food substances and are essential for the proper functioning of the body parts and organs. They are of many kinds and each vitamin has a separate role in keeping our body healthy.

            Twenty kinds of vitamins have so far bee isolated, out of which six vitamins are of crucial importance. These are vitamin A, B, C, D, E and K.

Vitamin A: Vitamin A is mainly found in milk, butter, cream, cheese eggs, fish oil, cabbage, etc. it is very essential for the development of the body. Deficiency of Vitamin A weakness eyesight and leads to night blindness. Vitamin A protects us form infections, skin diseases and many eye diseases.

Vitamin B complex: Vitamin B consists of several water-soluble vitamins of the same nomenclature. They are known by their chemical names. Their constitution and functions are also different. These are described below.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine): Vitamin B1 or thiamine’s found in yeast, germinated wheat and pork. Its deficiency leads to a disease called beri-beri and causes tiredness, weakness, breathing difficulties, indigestion, etc. vitamin B1 is lost if food is cooked with baking soda.

Vitamin B2 ( riboflavin): Vitamin B2 or riboflavin is mainly found in milk, eggs and liver, deficiency of vitamin B2 causes general weakness, skin diseases, and sores on tongue and cracks on lips. Eye is also affected; there is dimness in vision, redness or burning sensation in the eyes.

Vitamin B6 (nicotinic acid or niacin): Vitamin B6 or nicotinic acid or niacin is found in bigger proportion in yeast, grain chaffs, eggs, meat, kidneys and livers. This is also found in smaller quantities in flour, polished rice, fruits, green vegetables and milk.

Deficiency of vitamin B6 causes diseases

Called Pellagra: This causes mental tension, inflammation of tongue, gums and inner lining of the intestine. There is loss of appetite and the body becomes weak.

Vitamin B7: Vitamin B7 is found in eggs, meat, milk and green vegetables. Deficiency of this vitamin adversely affects the inner lining of stomach and intestines, thereby causing disorder of digestion.

Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is found in milk, meat, liver etc. by keeping the diet balanced; it can be obtained in sufficient quantity. Deficiencies of this vitamin can result in anemia, pains, toughness in arms, and partial paralysis. For the formation of red blood corpuscles, vitamin B12 folic acid ad vitamins C are essential. In case of a extreme anemic condition, it is injected into the body.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is found in large quantities in orange, lemon, grape, tomato, pineapple, germinated pulses and green vegetables. Pears, bananas also have it.

Deficiency of vitamin C leads to pain in joints, and a disease called scurvy. Inflammation of gums, weakening of brain, lethargy, weakness, tiredness, pain in legs, loss of eyesight, appearance of blue scars on the body, and peeling of skin are also caused by its deficiency.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is found in milk, butter, fish-oil, eggs, etc. the sunlight falling on the body also makes vitamin D under the skin. Deficiency of vitamin D causes a disease called rickets (weakening of bones).

Vitamin E: Vitamin E is found in grains and oils. It is also found in large quantity in onions. Deficiency of this vitamin badly affects skin, blood, brain and liver.

Vitamin K: Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables. Generally, the organisms present inside the intestines make vitamin K. it helps in clotting of blood on wounds. If we take a balanced diet containing fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk, fish, beans, wheat and rice, we get all these vitamins. All these vitamins are also available in the form of tablets and capsules in the market. Minerals are also needed for good health. Iron is needed for blood pigment, hemoglobin. Calcium- found in milk and cheese- and phosphorus, which is present in most foods, are needed for the growth of healthy bones and teeth.

How long can Man Survive Without Food?

        Like air and water, food is also essential part for all living beings. From the smallest insects to the biggest animals- all need food for their survival. So much so that even plants cannot live have long without food. Each person requires a certain amount of food daily, depending on his size, weight, age and amount of activity. Most of us feel uncomfortable, if we skip just one meal. Also, if we go without food for 12 hours or more we feel all the more lethargic.

            Energy required to do work is obtained form food we eat. Our cells and tissues suffer damage every day while doing work and need to be repaired and replaced. Food is thus needed for the growth, maintenance and development of our body. In short, we need carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water as food for proper functioning of our body.

            Have you ever given a thought to how long we can survive without food? There are some animals that can store food in their bodies and live on stored food for a long time. It has been observed that smaller and more active animals consume more food than others, in proportion to their body weight. Warm-blooded animals use up the food stored in their body more quickly. A dog can survive without food for 20 days at the most. However, some bugs can survive without food for one full year.

            Man cannot store food in his stomach. If he misses one meal, he feels weak. Food is required to maintain the flow of blood. All constituents of blood are obtained form food. The moment blood runs low on nutritional materials, a signal goes to the brain and we start feeling hungry.

            There are a few examples of people who survived for a very long time without food. Angus Warviern of Scotland survived without food for 382 days, i.e., from June 1965 to July 1966. During this period, he took only coffee, tea, water and soda water. One South African woman survived for 102 days on water and soda water. Stefan Taylor of New Zealand survived for 40 days in 1970 on a daily intake of just one glass of water. There are many such examples. Such people are endowed with exceptional power. A common man can, at the most, survive without food for a week.