Jamaica Food Facts And Recipes
Jamaica Food contains nutrients which have different functions in the body. Most foods from Jamaica contain more than one nutrient and these nutrients have several different functions to perform in the body. It is important that we all learn and understand these Jamaica food facts. We all need energy but some of us need more than others. All the various processes of living involve the expenditure of energy to some extent.
Even when we are asleep we still need energy to breathe. Energy is needed for the heart to beat, for the blood to circulate, for the digestion of food and for the many other processes that go on in our bodies. People eating Jamaica food can be typically healthy if they eat the right way. We also need energy for all physical activities: to stand, to walk, to run, to dig the garden, to sweep the room. Different amounts of energy are needed for different activities.
This is a big factor with respect to what is known as Jamaican energy herbs such as Sarsaparilla. The amount of energy we need also varies with our age, sex, size and state of health. Energy is measured in kilo- calories or kilojoules. Many people don’t know how to make shakes such as the famous roots wine. The nutrients mainly concerned with energy are:
1 Carbohydrates – carbohydrates in the Jamaican diet
2 Fats and oils – common Jamaican fat in cooking
3 B vitamins – Such as Ackee with Vitamin C and B
4 Protein – Understanding protein foods in Jamaica Carbohydrates
There are two forms of carbohydrates which can be used by the body as food. These are a) Jamaica grains and starches b) sugars A third form of carbohydrate, cellulose, is found in the fibrous parts of cereals, fruits and vegetables.
It cannot be digested by the human body, though cows and other ruminant animals can make use of it. It is of value to the human being in that it provides bulk and helps the stomach and intestines to work normally. You might need to find those dishes that are rich. One prime example is the June plum or the soursop. Both that are key sources of energy. Cellulose is also known as roughage or fiber. It helps to prevent constipation.
Foods rich in starch include cereals such as rice, maize, wheat and foods made from cereals like cornmeal, oatmeal. Also rich in starch are the starchy roots and fruits such as cassava, plantains, yams, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, breadfruit, and eddoes. Sugar is found in many fruits and in sugar cane and sugar beet, honey and molasses.
Many foods contain sugar e.g. soft drinks, cakes and cookies. Carbohydrate-rich foods are usually cheap and they form the greater part of our diet. The quantity that we should eat of them depends on our energy needs. Excess weight can result from consuming more carbohydrate-rich foods than we need. Foods rich in cellulose, roughage or fiber, include some fruits and vegetables, e.g. green vegetables, and whole cereals that is, cereals which have not been highly milled and still contain bran.
Most Jamaican breakfast cereals are rich in fiber. In order that our bodies make good use of carbohydrates we also need Vitamin B. Rich sources of Vitamin B are whole cereals, brown or parboiled rice, brown bread, yeast, pulses, peanuts, marmite, pork and bacon. Typically Ackee and Callaloo are also rich in this vitamin and this is another notable one of Jamaica food facts.
