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The 6 Nutrients. Essential Compounds for Health. Nutrients. Nutrients are substances obtained from food and used by the body to promote growth , maintenance, and repair . Nutrients are essential for human survival.
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The 6 Nutrients Essential Compounds for Health
Nutrients • Nutrients are substances obtained from food and used by the body to promote growth, maintenance, and repair. • Nutrients are essential for human survival. • There are 6 classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, and water. • A complete chemical analysis of your body would show that it is made of roughly the same amounts of these nutrients as your foods.
Energy Yielding Nutrients • Carbohydrates, fats, and protein are energy yielding nutrients. • These three nutrients contain calories. • If your body does not burn the energy made by these nutrients then your body stores the energy as fat for later use. • Your diet should consist of about 60% carbohydrates, 12% protein and 30% fat. • Alcohol also contains calories, but it is not considered energy yielding because it does not contribute to overall health.
Non-Energy Yielding Nutrients • Vitamins, minerals, and water do not supply calories and are referred to non-energy yielding. • Vitamins are organic compounds (they contain carbon) that help regulate the release of energy and other aspects of metabolism. • Vitamins are divided into two classes: water soluble (the B vitamins and vitamin C) and fat soluble (vitamins A, D, E & K).
Non-Energy Yielding Nutrients • Minerals are inorganic compounds (do not contain carbon) that make up parts of your body (like bones and teeth) and perform various body functions. • Water carries materials to and from cells. It provides the warm, nutrient rich bath that cells need to thrive. • Vitamins and minerals are found in minute (very small) amounts in foods. Food can contain very little water (5% in almonds) to almost all water (96% in lettuce).
Food Guide Pyramid & Nutrients • Most foods contain a blend of all the nutrients, however some areas of the pyramid provide more of certain nutrients than others. • Grains: good source of carbohydrates. • Vegetables: good source of vitamins, carbohydrates and water. • Fruits: good source of vitamins, carbohydrates and water. • Meat and beans: good source of protein, minerals, and fat. • Dairy: good source of protein, minerals, and fat. • Oils: good source of fat.