Basic Nutrients for Sustaining a Healthy Body
July 7, 2009
If you eat a healthy well balanced diet then you are providing your body the six basic nutrients. Carbohydrates are one of the six nutrients and they are responsible for increasing energy levels. They breakdown proteins in the food; flush out toxins from the body and prevent dehydration. Carbohydrates can be found in most fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Our body is made up of proteins and hence it naturally is one of the six basic nutrients. Protein consists of amino acids and they it is these amino acids that make the protein. Since we have 22 amino acids and the body can produce only 14 of them it is important that we provide our body with healthy doses in order to be healthy and strong. Protein form hormones and enzymes that ward off infections, form antibodies that fight infections and build muscles and repair tissues. Meat, fish, poultry, dairy products and eggs are great sources of protein.
Fat is the third essential nutrient; though one must be aware of the healthy and unhealthy fats. High amounts of fat in your body leads to increase in your cholesterol levels and this can lead to heart related disorders. You must make sure that your fat intake does not form more than 20 percent of your diet. Fats produce more energy than carbohydrates and they keep the body temperature constant. They are also known to be effective in maintaining healthy skin and hair and they protect the vital organs.
Vitamins regulate the nervous system, build blood cells and hormones. Hence they are part of the required nutrients. The body is unable to produce the vitamins and hence you need to provide them to your body via your diet. Vegetables are a great source of vitamins and hence it is important that you do not over cook them. You must also avoid using too much water when cooking. Vitamins are found in fruits and vegetables, dairy and poultry, fish, meat and eggs.
Minerals are the next essential and they are required by the bones and teeth. Minerals like calcium, iron and sulfur are required by the body in small quantities.
The last and most important requirement of the body is water. 75% of the body is made up of water and hence it is important to maintain those levels. Fruits and vegetables provide the body with water. You need to drink 2 liters of water daily in order to maintain your health. Avoid drinking caffeine based drinks as they dehydrate the body.
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