The 6 Nutrients
By : Sarah Bono
The 6 are...
The six nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Each nutrient will be described below on what they're needed for, how to receive them, and know which ones you want a lot of and which ones you don't want too much of.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates, also called carbs, are the most important nutrient needed to give your body energy. Without carbs your body would not have glucose. The digestive systems creates glucose from the carbohydrates that are in the blood stream.
Proteins
There are nine essential amino acids that create proteins. There are also two types of proteins, complete and incomplete. The nine amino acids are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. There are also two different types of proteins, complete and incomplete. A complete protein is where the protein has an adequate proportion of all nine amino acids. An incomplete protein is a protein that are lacking one or more of the nine amino acids. Incomplete proteins are often found in plant food.
Fats
There are three main types of fats - saturated, unsaturated, and trans fats. Saturated fats are typically solid at room temperature. Saturated fats raises cholesterol in your blood, causing higher chances for a heart attack or stroke. Unsaturated fats are normally liquid at room temperature. Unsaturated fats are healthier yet contain less energy. Research shows that people who eat more unsaturated fats have a lower risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol levels. Trans fats have been proven to raise your bad cholesterol levels and lower your good ones. Like saturated fats, trans fats raise your risk of heart disease and stroke. Trans fat also increases your chance of type 2 diabetes.
Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients for your body. They help give your body what it needs, but having too much can be harmful. They help your body's immune system and also help cells and organs do their jobs. Vitamins and minerals are in all of the foods we eat.
Vitamins - fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins tend to remain in the body longer than water soluble vitamins meaning that if you have too much, you may potentially have a dangerous condition. Water soluble vitamins are vitamins B and C. Water soluble vitamins do their jobs just as the other vitamins but they just go through your body quicker.
Minerals - you need 16 each day. Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, iodine, selenium, molybdenum, chromium, and fluoride.
Water
Water makes up 70% of your body. Water does more than just make up your body; it regulates body functions, body temperature, and carries waste out of your body. Water also helps regulate cell growth and carries nutrients and oxygen to them as well. Water does a lot more than just making up most of your body. You'd be surprised at how much more it really does.