NCERT Class 6 Science Notes Chapter 2 – Components Of Food
At Extramarks, Class 6 Science Chapter 2 Notes have been prepared by subject matter experts to provide students with extensive knowledge of the various components of food. These notes explain every topic in detail. Class 6 Science Chapter 2 Notes are prepared as per CBSE guidelines and the latest syllabus. Students can follow these notes to memorise all the important concepts given in the NCERT book. Class 6 Science Chapter 2 Notes discusses all the concepts step by step so that students can grasp every topic comprehensively.
Class 6 Science Chapter 2 Notes provided by Extramarks comprise the following concepts.
- Nutrients
- Major Nutrients
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Fats
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Roughages
- Sources of Major Nutrients
- Detection of Some Major Nutrients
- Balanced Diet
Class 6 Chapter 2 Science Notes are easily accessible on the website of Extramarks. Students can read these notes at their convenience. These notes will make learning easy and help students fetch more marks in the exam.
CBSE Class 6 Science Chapter 2 Revision Notes – Components Of Food
(Add Revision Notes)
Access Class 6 Science Chapter 2 – Components of Food Revision Notes
<Solutions>
Nutrients
- All living organisms need food for existence. Food is essential for the growth and nourishment of the body.
- There are regional and individual differences in food consumption. For example, the food habits of people living in coastal areas are different from those living in hilly regions. Babies and adults do not consume the same food. Similarly, a sick person follows a different diet than that of a healthy person.
- Therefore it can be said that geographical area, age, and physical condition of the person are the determining factors for the type of food consumed by a person.
- Food provides energy which is necessary for the growth, development, and functioning of the body. The elements in the food which act as the source of that energy are known as nutrients.
- Different types of food have different types of nutrients. Each nutrient has a specific role to play in the process of growth and development of the body.
Major Nutrients
There are six major nutrients, namely, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, and roughages. The major sources of these nutrients, their contribution to nutrition, and the detection tests are discussed below.
- Carbohydrates
- Carbohydrates are the major sources of energy required for the body to function properly.
- They are found in food in the form of starch and sugar.
- Their presence in food can be detected by the iodine solution test. In this test, a few drops of iodine solution is added to the food sample. If the colour of the food changes to blue-black, then it is confirmed that carbohydrates are present in that food.
- Food grains like wheat and rice, vegetables, fruits, legumes, etc., contain carbohydrates in high quantities.
- Proteins
- Proteins are essential elements for the survival of living organisms.
- They are responsible for the formation of cells, muscles, and tissues in organs. Hence, they are called the building blocks of the body.
- Protein also plays an important role in the development and repair of cells, muscles, tissues, hair, hormones, and different organs.
- Its presence in food can be detected by a simple chemical test. Take a small amount of the food. Add two drops of copper sulphate solution and ten drops of caustic soda to it. If the colour turns violet, it will prove that proteins are present in the food.
- Proteins can be found in both animal-based food and vegetables. The major sources of proteins are milk, cheese, eggs, chicken, almonds, beans, soybeans, and seafood like prawns, etc.
- Fats
- The main function of fat is to provide energy to the body.
- Though they are extremely important for the functioning of the body, they can be harmful if consumed in large quantities.
- A simple paper test is used to detect the presence of fats in food. Put the sample food item on a piece of paper and wrap it well. If the food contains fat it will leave an oily patch on the paper.
- Animal-based sources of fats are meat, eggs, butter, ghee, etc. Apart from that, vegetables like groundnuts, vegetable oil, coconut oil, nuts, etc., also contain fats.
- Minerals
- Minerals are essential for health and only need to be consumed in little amounts.
- There are many minerals present on the earth. But only a few of them are helpful for the nourishment of the body of a living organism. Some of the necessary minerals are listed below.
- Calcium: It is necessary for bones.
- Iron: It is required in the development of red blood cells.
- Iodine: It plays an important role in the functioning of the thyroid gland.
- Sources of the minerals are as follows.
- Calcium is found in milk, eggs, etc.
- Phosphorus is present in milk and bananas.
- Spinach, apples, etc., are major sources of iron.
- Iodine is present in fish, ginger, etc.
- Vitamins help the body fight against diseases.
- They are also important for maintaining the health of the eyes, bones, teeth, and gums.
- There are various types of vitamins required for different purposes.
- Vitamin A is important for the healthy eyes.
- Vitamin C protects the body from diseases.
- Vitamin D is essential for healthy teeth and bones.
- All the vitamins cannot be found in one food. Different vitamins constitute the major part of different foods.
- Vitamin A is present in mango, tomato, papaya, milk, and oil produced from fish, etc.
- Vitamin B is present in abundant quantities in rice, wheat, etc.
- Vitamin C can be found in lemons, tomatoes, oranges, etc.
- Vitamin D is found in fish, milk, eggs, etc.
- Roughage is also known as dietary fibre.
- They are required in the body to remove undigested food.
- They are mainly found in plant-based foods.
- The following are the major sources of roughages.
- Whole grains, for example, oats.
- Vegetables, such as beans, carrots, etc.
- Fruits like apples, pears, etc.
- Another important component is water. It is not a nutrient but helps the body to absorb the essential elements and remove the waste through sweat and urine.
Balanced Diet
- The food that is consumed daily should contain essential nutrients. For example, rice or wheat is consumed to get carbohydrates. But one nutrient is not enough for maintaining and functioning the body. Therefore, the diet must include a modest quantity of everything.
- A balanced diet refers to the food consumed every day that contains all the nutrients in adequate quantities essential for the body.
- A balanced diet includes food grains like rice or wheat for the carbohydrates, pulses and meat or egg as the sources of proteins, and vegetables for vitamins, minerals, and fibre in moderate quantities.
- Foods that contain high quantities of fats like fried food or sweets should be avoided. Though fats are necessary nutrients, overconsumption of fats increases body weight which ultimately leads to obesity.
NCERT Class 6 Science Chapter 2 Notes
Class 6 Science Chapter 2 Notes are important as they introduce students to the fundamental concepts of the components of food. This chapter imparts knowledge not only about factual details but also helps students understand what kind of food they should have to stay healthy. This chapter is also important from the point of view of exams.
At Extramarks, subject matter experts prepare the Class 6 Science Chapter 2 Notes as per the revised syllabus and CBSE guidelines. It is very important to mark the points covered in the chapter and make notes to revise them before the examinations. Students can save time and focus on revision before their exams.
These notes cover all of the major concepts in the NCERT book concisely to help the students understand the concepts easily. Class 6 Chapter 2 Science Notes will help students not only in understanding the topics in detail but also to get excellent scores in the exams.