According to the World Health Organization, essential nutrients are a type of compound that our bodies can’t make or can’t make enough for our bodies to thrive. We must get these nutrients from food to keep ourselves healthy. These essential nutrients allow our bodies to fight against disease, ensure that our immune systems are functioning healthy, and support good health.
There are two main types of essential nutrients. They’re identified as micronutrients and macronutrients. Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals that help to support the vital functions of our bodies.
Macronutrients are the primary building blocks of what makes up our diets. Fat, carbohydrates, and proteins are all macronutrients. Macronutrients provide our bodies with energy.
Are you interested in learning about the essential nutrients that your body needs every day to maintain optimal health? We create a complete guide of the essential nutrients that you need to be consuming every day. Keep reading for a complete list of nutrients you need to consume every day!
Protein
Protein is an essential nutrient that your body needs to maintain good health. This nutrient please a vital role in helping your body form muscles, as well as the regulation for your hormone production.
Made up of small building blocks that are referred to as amino acids, the proteins that you consume are essential and building new cells. These new cells are the building blocks of every single part of your body.
From your skin, to the phone, to your muscles, to your hair, every single cell in your body contains protein. Even all the antibodies, hormones, and other important substances in your body are made up of proteins.
While your body does have the capability of creating amino acids by itself, there are many other types of amino acids that are only available from the food that you eat.
Fat
According to this source, fat supports many of the vital functions in your body. Functions such as ensuring that your blood clots quickly, the production of new cells, moving your muscles, and even absorbing vitamins and minerals. While fat has gotten a bad rap for being high in calories, the calories that are absorbed from your body from the fat that you eat is an energy source for your body.
While the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that only 35% of your daily caloric intake comes from fat, it’s important that you balance healthy fats in your diet to maintain optimal health.
Minerals
Did you know that 99% of the calcium in your body is found in your teeth and bones?
Minerals are a type of micro nutrient, which are responsible for a variety of roles in the functions of healthy body nutrition. The most essential minerals are iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium.
Ensuring that you have adequate levels of calcium in your daily nutritional intake is essential for nerve functioning, muscle function, and even the circulation of your blood. You can find calcium leafy greens dairy and even some fish.
Magnesium, sodium, and even zinc can be found naturally in meats, nuts, and even some vegetables. While sodium has gotten a bad rap for increasing the development of high blood pressure, limiting your daily intake to run one teaspoon of salt will provide your body with enough of the nutrient to maintain optimal health without increasing your chances of developing high blood pressure.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are essential for your body to properly function. As your body breaks down carbohydrates, they turn into glucose, which your body and your brain use for energy.
This essential nutrient stops your body from breaking down your muscles for proteins for energy, which prevents muscle mass from vital organs, such as a heart. Carbohydrates have often referred to as being a fattening nutrient, complex carbohydrates are a much healthier addition to add into your diet than simple carbohydrates are.
Complex carbohydrates are healthier than simple carbohydrates because they take longer for your body to break down, and keep you feeling full longer, which means that you won’t be eating the empty calories are associated with simple carbohydrates, such as sugar.
You can ensure that you’re eating healthy carbohydrates by increasing your consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your daily diet.
Vitamins
Vitamins are another type of micronutrient that are essential for your body to function in and healthy manner. The most essential items that you should be consuming on a daily basis are vitamin C, vitamin E, B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E.
Your body uses vitamin D to maintain a healthy immune system, as well as to ensure that your bones stay strong. Vitamin A is used for maintaining optimal skin and eye health, while vitamin C is used for supporting the healthy structure of your bones and your muscles.
Understanding This List of Nutrients
We all want to make sure that we keep our bodies healthy, which is why it’s so important to make sure you’re eating enough of these nutrients!
If you’re looking to ensure that your stay health, it’s important that you consume enough of the list of nutrients above. Eat a variety of healthy fats, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains. Providing your diet with a variety of food will make sure that you’re getting enough macronutrients and micronutrients to keep your body healthy.
Are you interested in learning more about how to keep your body healthy? Check out our other blog post to learn more!