What are the main functions of food?

Food supplies the body with all the vital nutrients and energy it requires to keep running, allowing an individual to grow and thrive. Food is an important material in the body, and its consumption is necessary for survival.

Food provides the body with energy in the form of calories, fueling the cells in the same way that gasoline fuels a car. Any excess is stored in the form of fat in adipose cells, a throwback to prehistoric days when food was not so readily available. Food also provides pleasure, and it is commonly associated with social functions and positive emotions.