Essential Nutrients In Food

Our everyday food intake consists of hundreds and hundreds of various chemicals. Nevertheless, only a small minority are of the really essential nutrients in food to keep you in the pink; nonetheless this little group is crucial because they are the essential nutrients which must be present in numbers in the food we eat.

The essential nutrients of food are split between macronutrients and micronutrients. Macro nutrients are:

• Carbohydrates
• Fats
• Proteins
• Water

and are of paramount importance to our normal wellbeing because they are required in some quantity.

Micro nutrients are:

• Minerals
• Vitamins

and, whilst necessary, are not needed in the same quantities as the macro nutrients.

MACRONUTRIENTS

1. Carbohydrates are the primary foundation of our energy embracing starches and sugars and provide the calorific content of what we eat. For instance, the calorie calculation is one gram of carbohydrate equals around four calories. At their basic level sugars are called simple carbohydrates whilst starches are known as complex carbohydrates.

2. Fats are packed full of energy and this is reflected in the calorie calculation; in fact, nine calories per gram which is over double the calories included in carbohydrates. Fats are made up of fatty acids – polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated – as well as an alcohol known as glycerol.

3. Proteins are the body builders friend and provide the wherewithal to enhance muscles and cartilages as well as being useful as hormones and as antibodies. The calorie calculation of one gram of protein is similar to carbohydrates at 4 calories each gram.

4. Water is an absolute necessity for the human body as often the body weight is made up of almost 70% or even 80% in extreme cases of this vital nutrient. Hence the recommendation in many parts of the world to drink eight glasses of water every day.

MICRONUTRIENTS

1. Minerals although necessary, are not needed in huge amounts on a daily basis although they are a required component for the preservation and development of the body structure as well as the make-up of fluids and digestive juices.

2. Vitamins are crucial if you want to be fit in mind and body and, ideally, should come from a well-balanced diet. There are many different vitamins – in fact, 13 in total – and all are necessary components for your natural wellbeing; vitamin A, vitamin B complex (a collection of 8 vitamins), vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K. Nutritionists separate vitamins into fat soluble and water soluble with B complex and vitamin C being water soluble.

Therefore, it is immediately apparent that many everyday problems and irritations can be relieved with attention to the fundaments of a good healthy eating plan and some basic nutrient information; add in a modicum of exercise – 25 minutes each day five days a week is sufficient – and you are well on your way to a healthy lifestyle.

Many good folk are spending much more than they can afford in their quest for a magic bullet to cure their excess weight problems. And yet, as always, Mother Nature has the answers to most weight related problems and everyday wellbeing and all that is required is a minimal understanding of nutrition and nutrients.