Lesson the common seed bearing plant such as a grass consists of four major parts: root, stem, leaf and 4 flower. The Root

TEXT: FOOD VALUE OF VEGETABLES

Vegetables play a very important role in the human diet. They supply some of the things in which other food materials are deficient. They are important in neutralizing the acid substances produced in the course of digestion of meat, cheese, and other foods; they are of value as roughage, which promotes digestion; they are important sources of the mineral elements needed by the body, being especially rich in calcium and iron. They are valuable sources of vitamins. Some vegetables, such as the legumes, are sources of protein, while others, such as potatoes and sweet potatoes, are important sources of energy, being rich in carbohydrates.

Vegetable Foods as Base Formers. The mineral substances are the agencies that are chiefly concerned in the reaction of the body fluids. Some of these elements are acidic and others basic – phosphorus and sulphur forming phosphoric acid and sulphuric acid, respectively – while calcium, magnesium, and potassium are the most important bases acting to neutralize these acids. The bases should be in excess of the acids in order that they may serve as alkali reserves of the blood.
Vegetables as a Source of Minerals. At least 10 mineral elements are needed for the proper growth and development of the body. Extensive investigations have shown that calcium, phosphorum, and iron, except in rare instances, are the only sufficient for the needs of the body. The mineral elements that are not present in foods in quantities sufficient for the needs of the body. The green vegetables are good sources of the important mineral elements. Because of the rich content of valuable substances vegetables are being widely used nowadays.

Vegetables as a Source of Vitamins. The name “vitamin” has been given to a group of food substances other than fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and salts that occur in small quantities in natural food materials. They are essential for growth, for reproduction, and for the maintenance of health.