Food sources

Global average daily calorie consumption in 1995

Most food has its origin in plants. Some food is obtained directly from plants; but even animals
that are used as food sources are raised by feeding them food derived from plants. Cereal grain is
a staple food that provides more food energy worldwide than any other type of crop. Maize,
wheat, and rice in all of their varieties account for 87% of all grain production worldwide.[2]
Most of the grain that is produced worldwide is fed to livestock.

Some foods not from animal or plant sources include various edible fungi, especially
mushrooms. Fungi and ambient bacteria are used in the preparation of fermented and pickled
foods like leavened bread, alcoholic drinks, cheese, pickles, kombucha, and yogurt. Another
example is blue-green algae such as Spirulina.[3] Inorganic substances such as salt, baking soda
and cream of tartar are used to preserve or chemically alter an ingredient.

Plants

See also: Herb and spice

Many plants and plant parts are eaten as food and around 2,000 plant species which are
cultivated for food. Many of these plant species have several distinct cultivars.[4]

Seeds of plants are a good source of food for animals, including humans, because they contain
the nutrients necessary for the plant's initial growth, including many healthful fats, such as
Omega fats. In fact, the majority of food consumed by human beings are seed-based foods.
Edible seeds include cereals (maize, wheat, rice, et cetera), legumes (beans, peas, lentils, et
cetera), and nuts. Oilseeds are often pressed to produce rich oils - sunflower, flaxseed, rapeseed
(including canola oil), sesame, et cetera.[5]

Seeds are typically high in unsaturated fats and, in moderation, are considered a health food,
although not all seeds are edible. Large seeds, such as those from a lemon, pose a choking
hazard, while seeds from cherries and apples contain cyanide which could be poisonous only if
consumed in large volumes.[6]

Fruits are the ripened ovaries of plants, including the seeds within. Many plants and animals
have coevolved such that the fruits of the former are an attractive food source to the latter,
because animals that eat the fruits may excrete the seeds some distance away. Fruits, therefore,
make up a significant part of the diets of most cultures. Some botanical fruits, such as tomatoes,
pumpkins, and eggplants, are eaten as vegetables.[7] (For more information, see list of fruits.)

Vegetables are a second type of plant matter that is commonly eaten as food. These include root
vegetables (potatoes and carrots), bulbs (onion family), leaf vegetables (spinach and lettuce),
stem vegetables (bamboo shoots and asparagus), and inflorescence vegetables (globe artichokes
and broccoli and other vegetables such as cabbage or cauliflower).[8]

Animals
Main articles: Animal source foods and Food chain

Animals are used as food either directly or indirectly by the products they produce. Meat is an
example of a direct product taken from an animal, which comes from muscle systems or from
organs.

Various raw meats

Food products produced by animals include milk produced by mammary glands, which in many
cultures is drunk or processed into dairy products (cheese, butter, etc.). In addition, birds and
other animals lay eggs, which are often eaten, and bees produce honey, a reduced nectar from
flowers, which is a popular sweetener in many cultures. Some cultures consume blood,
sometimes in the form of blood sausage, as a thickener for sauces, or in a cured, salted form for
times of food scarcity, and others use blood in stews such as jugged hare.[9]

Some cultures and people do not consume meat or animal food products for cultural, dietary,
health, ethical, or ideological reasons. Vegetarians choose to forgo food from animal sources to
varying degrees. Vegans do not consume any foods that are or contain ingredients from an
animal source.

Production

Tractor and Chaser bin

Main articles: Agriculture, Food industry and Genetically modified food

Most food has always been obtained through agriculture. With increasing concern over both the
methods and products of modern industrial agriculture, there has been a growing trend toward
sustainable agricultural practices. This approach, partly fueled by consumer demand, encourages
biodiversity, local self-reliance and organic farming methods.[10] Major influences on food
production include international organizations (e.g. the World Trade Organization and Common
Agricultural Policy), national government policy (or law), and war.[11]

In popular culture, the mass production of food, specifically meats such as chicken and beef, has
come under fire from various documentaries, most recently Food, Inc, documenting the mass
slaughter and poor treatment of animals, often for easier revenues from large corporations. Along
with a current trend towards environmentalism, people in Western culture have had an increasing
trend towards the use of herbal supplements, foods for a specific group of person (such as
dieters, women, or athletes), functional foods (fortified foods, such as omega-3 eggs), and a more
ethnically diverse diet.[12]

Several organisations have begun calling for a new kind of agriculture in which agroecosystems
provide food but also support vital ecosystem services so that soil fertility and biodiversity are
maintained rather than compromised. According to the International Water Management Institute
and UNEP, well-managed agroecosystems not only provide food, fiber and animal products, they
also provide services such as flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, erosion control and
habitats for plants, birds fish and other animals.[13]

Taste perception

Main article: Taste

Animals, specifically humans, have five different types of tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and
umami. As animals have evolved, the tastes that provide the most energy (sugar and fats) are the
most pleasant to eat while others, such as bitter, are not enjoyable.[14] Water, while important for
survival, has no taste.[15] Fats, on the other hand, especially saturated fats, are thicker and rich and
are thus considered more enjoyable to eat.

Sweet

Structure of sucrose
Generally regarded as the most pleasant taste, sweetness is almost always caused by a type of
simple sugar such as glucose or fructose, or disaccharides such as sucrose, a molecule combining
glucose and fructose.[16] Complex carbohydrates are long chains and thus do not have the sweet
taste. Artificial sweeteners such as sucralose are used to mimic the sugar molecule, creating the
sensation of sweet, without the calories. Other types of sugar include raw sugar, which is known
for its amber color, as it is unprocessed. As sugar is vital for energy and survival, the taste of
sugar is pleasant.

The stevia plant contains a compound known as steviol which, when extracted, has 300 times the
sweetness of sugar while having minimal impact on blood sugar.[17]

Sour
Sourness is caused by the taste of acids, such as vinegar in alcoholic beverages. Sour foods
include citrus, specifically lemons, limes, and to a lesser degree oranges. Sour is evolutionarily
significant as it is a sign for a food that may have gone rancid due to bacteria.[18] Many foods,
however, are slightly acidic, and help stimulate the taste buds and enhance flavor.

Salty

Salt mounds in Bolivia.

Saltiness is the taste of alkali metal ions such as sodium and potassium. It is found in almost
every food in low to moderate proportions to enhance flavor, although to eat pure salt is regarded
as highly unpleasant. There are many different types of salt, with each having a different degree
of saltiness, including sea salt, fleur de sel, kosher salt, mined salt, and grey salt. Other than
enhancing flavor, its significance is that the body needs and maintains a delicate electrolyte
balance, which is the kidney's function. Salt may be iodized, meaning iodine has been added to
it, a necessary nutrient that promotes thyroid function. Some canned foods, notably soups or
packaged broths, tend to be high in salt as a means of preserving the food longer. Historically
speaking, salt has been used as a meat preservative as salt promotes water excretion, thus
working as a preservative. Similarly, dried foods also promote food safety.[19]
 Bitter
Bitterness is a sensation often considered unpleasant characterized by having a sharp, pungent
taste. Dark, unsweetened chocolate, caffeine, lemon rind, and some types of fruit are known to
be bitter.

Umami
Also named as Savoury.

Umami, the Japanese word for delicious, is the least known in Western popular culture but has a
long tradition in Asian cuisine. Umami is the taste of glutamates, especially monosodium
glutamate (MSG).[16] It is characterized as savory, meaty, and rich in flavor. Salmon and
mushrooms are foods high in umami. Meat and other animal byproducts are described as having
this taste.[citation needed]

Five Basic Survival Needs of Human Beings

written by: KennethSleightedited by: Jason C. Chavisupdated: 10/8/2014

What do human beings need to physically survive? This list presents the five very basic physical
items that people need to survive on this Earth. This list presents only the basic human needs to
survive; people may need other items to grow, adapt and thrive.

Interest in basic human survival has surged since the productions of television shows like
Man vs. Wild and Survivor Man. Even though they dont explicitly mention these five basic
needs, Bear Grylls and Les Stroud spend each episode of their respective shows giving tips that
expound on these to everyday people who may run into a survival situation while they brave the
outdoors.

In order to best prepare yourself for the unpredictable, it is important to have a certain amount of
knowledge regarding these factors. Each of these items represents fundamentals that have kept
humans alive from the dawn of time to today. While each of these has changed and been adapted
over the millions of years humans thrived, the principles remain the same.

List of basic human survival needs:

1. Oxygen

2. Water

3. Food

4. Shelter

5. Sleep
 1. Oxygen

Oxygen is possibly our most basic human need. People can begin to
experience brain damage after as few as five minutes without oxygen. There are several things
that may prevent you from getting the oxygen you need. Environmental risks such as high
amounts of smoke, high altitudes or carbon monoxide can prevent you from breathing in oxygen.
Some medical issues may prevent your body from receiving oxygen like cardiac arrest, stroke,
drowning and others.

Without a consistent supply of oxygen, you can experience a condition called cerebral hypoxia
which affects our brains. After 15 minutes without oxygen, the brain damage can be so severe
that most people will not recover.

2. Water

Other than the air we breathe, water is the most essential component for human survival. It is
estimated that a person cannot survive for more than 3-4 days without water.

In hot weather it is recommended that the average person needs to consume two quarts of water a
day to replace the amount lost due to sweating, respiration and excretion to maintain a balance of
body fluids. In moderate climates you may be able to get by on less. Some foods can also
provide you with water, though you should avoid food and drink that could dehydrate you.

When the hydration balance is unable to be maintained the body will start to go through the
dehydration process. A 2.5 percent loss in water volume in a person leads to a 25 percent
reduction in blood volume. This means the blood gets thicker and the heart has to work harder to
pump nutrients throughout the body. This lower blood volume also reduces flow to the
 extremities, leading to numbness in the fingers and toes. The thicker blood also has a harder time
making its way through the small capillaries in the brain. The lack of oxygen to parts of the brain
can make it impossible to concentrate or focus for any period of time.

The length of time one can survive without water depends on activity level and environmental
temperature. Higher activity will invariably reduce life span, as will higher temperatures. With
no water, the maximum length of time a person can survive is 10 days. Starting at 80 degrees
Fahrenheit life expectancy is reduced to 9 days. With every five-degree increase in temperature,
the life span decreases a day.

3. Food

If you have a good water supply the next essential need is that of
sustenance. A body that does not have food can survive for quite a long time by subsisting on the
fat reserves in the body and, eventually, the glycogen reserves in the liver and the proteins in the
muscles.

The first two to three days without food, the body will depend solely on the fat reserves to run
the muscles of the body. Unfortunately, these fatty acids cant cross the blood-brain barrier. The
brain relies on the glycogen reserves to send glucose to the brain.

After day three, the liver begins to synthesize ketones (short strand fatty acids) that can cross the
blood-brain barrier. The ketone stage can last for up to two weeks. Once the fat reserves are used
up, the body will begin breaking down the musculature into proteins that can be converted into
amino acids that are then transformed into glucose. Muscles break down quickly, within one
week. Once this process has completed there is no other internal source of energy and the body
dies.

Most individuals who experience starvation dont die directly from it. Most die due to infectious
diseases that attack the body as it eats its own defenses. Signs of starvation include apathy,
listlessness, withdrawal, changes in hair color, flaky skin, and massive edema in the abdomen
and lower limbs, all of which lead to a higher chance of infection.

4. Protection from the Elements

 A shelter that helps to keep your body at a constant temperature is also a
necessity. This could also include appropriate clothing. When a person is exposed to the
elements, water loss is increased. Cold temperatures and high winds can strip away valuable
moisture as quickly as high temperatures can cause sweat related loss. A shelter should consist of
a place to make fire to create heat as well as protection from the wind and rain.

Without the ability to keep a constant temperature, a person runs the risk of hypothermia or heat
stroke. A persons normal temperature in 98.7 degrees Fahrenheit. If the core temperature drops
to 91.4, a body will go unconscious. At 86.0 degrees, the body loses the ability to control internal
temperature. At 82.4 degrees, there is complete muscle failure.

On the other end of the spectrum, a temperature of 107.6 degrees results in a breakdown of the
central nervous system. At slightly over 111 degrees, the brain overheats and causes death.

Extreme temperature fluctuations can cause hallucinations and illogical behavior, which can
cause a person to fail to take the proper steps to keep himself alive.

5. Sleep

For a long time sleep was not considered a basic human need. Studies on
sleep deprivation helped to change this in the 20th century. In terms of human need, sleep is one
of the five most important elements. Sleep deprivation can cause a myriad of problems ranging
from decreased body temperature to cognitive impairment and hallucination.

Although the mechanisms of sleep are not well understood, the problems associated with lack of
sleep are. Headaches can begin as soon as 24 hours after missing sleep. 72 hours in, memory is
impaired and temporal and spatial distortion start to occur. After 96 hours without sleep,
cognition is markedly impaired. After 144 hours, hallucinations ensue and there is a considerable
loss of attention and manual dexterity.
The longer a person goes without sleep the less coherent thought patterns become. This lack of
clear thinking can be detrimental on its own, if coupled with a lacking in any of the other basic
needs areas it could be life threatening.

There are other things you could add to this list like sex, emotional connection, sense of
belonging, etc. The difference is that although sex is needed for the species to survive an
individual can live without it. Emotional connection and a sense of belonging are group needs,
not individual survival needs. The truth is, there are only five basic needs; Clean Air, Water,
Nutrients, Shelter and Sleep.

Beyond our health, the simple fact is that our entire society is based primarily on the existence
and leveraging of these five factors. They are the basis for concepts like family, wealth, health
and, at times, governments. Without air, water, food, sleep or shelter, none of us would see it past
our first few days on Earth.

References

Nuts and Raisins courtesy of Christmas Stock Images.com

http://christmasstockimages.com/free/food-dining/slides/nuts_and_rasins.htm

Water image courtesy of SNAP @ Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapr/484776493/sizes/m/in/photostream/

NASA "Human Needs"

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/162514main_Human_Needs.pdf

"Survival in the Wilderness." Wilderness Survival Skills for Safe Wilderness

Travel. Web. 08 Aug. 2011. http://www.wilderness-survival-skills.com/survival-
in-the-wilderness.html

"Survival Needs - Human." Water: Science and Issues. Web. 08 Aug. 2011.
http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/St-Ts/Survival-Needs.html

Sleep Deprivation Image -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Effects_of_sleep_deprivation.svg

"Going Without Water | Survival Topics." Survival Topics | Your Online Survival
Kit! Web. http://www.wilderness-survival-skills.com/going-without-water.html

Shelter Image courtesy of DominicsPics @ FlickR

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/3400028576/sizes/m/in/photostrea
m/

Cerebral hypoxia - http://www.healthcentral.com/ency/408/001435.html?

ic=506048