In celebration of National Nutrition Month, let's take a step back to the fundamentals of nutrition and discuss the many nutrients and the roles they play in the human body. This is the first in a series of articles detailing the importance of certain nutrients to human health. So while we're talking about food and trying to eat more in line with the MyPlate guidelines, let's dig a little more into the specific nutrients that food contains.

Water

Our bodies are between 45 and 75 percent water, making it vital to our well-being. In addition to its many other functions, water helps keep our bodies at a comfortable temperature. Transporting nutrients throughout the body and into and out of cells, water makes up the vast majority of blood and other body fluids. A decent rule of thumb is to drink 8-10 cups of water day, while the exact quantity we require can vary with age, activity level, etc.

Carbohydrates

In order to function, our bodies rely mostly on carbohydrates (or "carbs" for short). Blood sugar is the primary source of energy for our body's cells. Carbohydrates come in both simple (easily digested) and complicated (more challenging to digest) forms. Despite the fact that it is indigestible, fiber plays a vital role un maintaining a healthy digestive tract and regulating cholesterol levels. According to the dietary guidelines for Americans, we should get 45–65% of our calories from carbohydrates. Fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, sugar, honey, and dairy products are all good sources of carbohydrates.

Protein

Amino acids are the structural components of protein and, by extension, of human bodies. Consuming protein allows for the development, maintenance, and repair of biological tissues. If we aren't getting enough energy from carbohydrates or fat, we can convert protein into blood glucose. Various foods provide varying quantities of protein. The finest sources of protein can be found in foods like meat, dairy, poultry, fish, beans, peas, almonds, seeds, and dairy products.

Fat

Fat contains twice as many calories per gram as any other macronutrient. Extra energy is stored as fat in our bodies. Despite this unfavorable role, fats are nonetheless vital to the body's functioning in other ways. Metabolic systems utilize fat for hormone production, insulation, and shock absorption to protect various body parts (such as the palms, soles, and internal organs). Fat is used in cell membranes and makes up roughly 60% of brain mass. We can't live without them, but we have to receive fats like Omega-3s from food. Oils from various plants, such as olives, avocados, canola seeds, and coconuts, as well as animal products and dairy foods, are rich in fats.

Vitamins

Vitamins are vital for your body's proper functioning, but you only require a tiny bit of them compared to the other nutrients. Vitamins play a role in a wide variety of bodily processes, including metabolism, growth and development, and immune system function. B-complex vitamins and vitamin C are examples of water-soluble vitamins, while vitamins A, D, E, and K are examples of fat-soluble vitamins. Almost all foods have some vitamin content, and in subsequent posts we'll examine each vitamin in greater depth.

Minerals

Minerals, like other elements (think of the periodic table from chemistry), are crucial to human health. Calcium, for example, is used for metabolic activities and also makes up an important portion of our skeletal system. We'll take a closer look at each mineral in turn as we explore the foods that contain them, just like we did with the vitamins.

Water, carbs, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals are the six primary nutrients. Each contributes in its own special way to the smooth operation of our bodies. As we go through each nutrient, what questions do you have about it? Do you want to know more about the function of a nutrient or the foods that contain a certain nutrient? If you have any suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover in the future, please let us know!

Categories: Carbohydrates, Fat, Minerals, Nutrients, Nutrition, Protein, Vitamins, Water, Water Is a Nutrient, What Are Carbohydrates, Minerals, Vitamins, Fat, and Protein?