Plants have high
carbohydrate,
protein and
lipid content, with carbohydrates mainly in the form of starch, fructose, glucose and other sugars.
[31] Most vitamins are found from plant sources, with the notable exceptions of
vitamin D and
vitamin B12.
Minerals are also plentiful, although the presence of
phytates can prevent their release.
[31] Fruit can consist of up to 90% water, contain high levels of
simple sugars that contribute to their sweet taste, and have a high
vitamin C content.
[31][35] Compared to fleshy fruit (excepting Bananas) vegetables are high in starch,
[41] potassium,
dietary fiber,
folateand vitamins and low in fat and calories.
[42]Grains are more starch based
[31] and nuts have a high protein, fibre, vitamin E and B content.
[35] Seeds are a good source of food for animals because they are abundant and contain fibre and healthful fats, such as
omega-3 fats.
[43][44]
Animals that only eat plants are called
herbivores, with those that mostly just eat fruits known as
frugivores,
[45] leaves, while shoot eaters are
folivores (pandas) and wood eaters termed
xylophages (termites).
[46]Frugivores include a diverse range of species from annelids to elephants, chimpanzees and many birds.
[47][48][49] About 182 fish consume seeds or fruit.
[50] There are many types of grasses, adapted to different locations, that animals (domesticated and wild) use as their main source of nutrients.
[51]
Humans only eat about 200 out of the worlds 400 000 plant species, despite at least half of them being edible.
[52] Most human plant-based food comes from maize, rice, and wheat.
[52] Plants can be processed into breads, pasta, cereals, juices and jams or raw ingredients such as sugar, herbs, spices and oils can be extracted.
[31] Oilseeds are often pressed to produce rich oils—
sunflower,
flaxseed,
rapeseed (including
canola oil) and
sesame.
[53]