Types of Nutrients

Food is not only to satisfy the appetite. It is something more than that. Nutrients are absorbed by digesting food. Each nutritional supply has specific needs to be satisfied. To be healthy, it is necessary to consume healthy food. Improper nutritional supply leads to disease. Above all, fuel to body is food. Essential nutrients are water, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and proteins.

Water

The most vital nutrient is water. It is obvious that our body utilizes water almost every millisecond. Water constitutes a greater part of our body weight. It helps in maintenance of body temperature. As it present everywhere throughout the body, it helps in easy transport of nutrients in the blood stream. However, water can never provide energy. Amount of water intake is dependable on temperature, humidity and level of activity. Water requirement for healthy individual is still not clear.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are primary energy provider. They supply energy to each and every part of an individual. Simple carbohydrate foods are table sugar, sweet, corn syrup, soft drink and fruits. Complex carbohydrate foods are rice, breads, cereals, whole grains, potatoes and bran, etc. Simple carbohydrate can be easily circulated inside the blood stream. However, it is not vital nutrimental supply as its energy can be obtained from sources such as fats and protein. Neurons and brain cannot utilize this energy. Some of the carbohydrates are fuel to body.

Fats

Fats are referred as energy storehouse, i.e. excess intake of nutrient is stored as fats. Fats are complete source of essential fatty acids. They acts as shock absorbing element and promote healthy function of cells. In majority of the cases, fats act as host for diseases. Fat is non essential nutrient. Essential nutrients like fatty acids are produced from fat. Vegetable fat and animal fat are two types of fats. Meat, lard and butter are animal fat and are prone to cause heart attack and stroke. Olive oil, sunflower oil, corn oil and soybean oil are vegetable fat and pose less threat to humans.

Vitamins

An important organic compound as nutrient is vitamin. Organism can never synthesize vitamin in adequate amount. Hence it has to be supplemented along with dietary food. They help in easy regulation of body functions. This nutrient cannot provide energy to cell.

 Minerals

Mineral is a nutrient which cannot be synthesized and hence it has to supplied through diet. For instance mineral like calcium help in bone development and active function. It also helps in regulation of body function. Minerals cannot supply energy.

Proteins

Proteins are body building blocks. It gives structure to the cell. Individual can synthesize proteins on its own as amino acids. Organisms which cannot synthesize amino acids on their own are referred as non essential amino acids. Through biosynthetic pathways organisms can synthesize proteins. It serves as fuel for individual under starving circumstances and proteins are produced by this means in the muscles. They help in transport of nutrients in blood stream.

Questions:

• Give a short note on respiration correlation with nutritional supply.
• What are the six types of nutrition and its importance?
• What are the symptoms of inadequate nutritional supply?
• Name essential nutrients for plants and animals in detail.