Nutrition fundamentals

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In many ways, the human body is self sustaining, being capable of self-maintenance and growth.  It carries out many vital functions involuntarily and all you need to do is to ensure a balanced diet that provides it with all the vital nutrients that it needs to carry out these processes that keep you functioning. A balanced diet is a perfect diet in the sense that it contains all the vital materials (called nutrients) that the body needs to perform various functions such as growth and development, as well as voluntary functions such as muscle movements for walking and performing actions.

Healthy diet

There are some basic rules that a person must follow to ensure that he or she is getting the correct nutrients in the right amounts. And the backbone of any good diet plan is a balanced diet. A balanced diet contains all the essential nutrients in their correct amounts, such that it meets all the requirements of your body but does not exceed them. It should contain all the primary nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water.

But why exactly are these nutrients so important and what functions do they perform within the body? Well, carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for the body. The main sources of carbohydrates are sugar, starches and fibers. Sugar does not only refer to the white powder widely used in soft drinks and cakes, but is also found in fruits and milk. Starch is commonly found in bread, potatoes and cereals. Together, both of these serve as the main energy providers for the body. Fiber is a form of carbohydrate in terms of its chemical structure, but the human body can not digest it. As a result, it is excreted. However, this does not mean it is useless, for plays an important part in maintaining a healthy digestive system. It is commonly found in fruits and vegetable as well as whole wheat bread.

The other important nutrients are proteins and fats. Proteins provide for a small fraction of the body’s energy needs. However, their primary function is to serve as the main structural component for the body’s cells, hence is vital for the process of growth and repair. They also play a vital part in regulating many of the processes taking place within the body, and are commonly found in food derived from animal sources such as meat and milk. Some vegetables such as grains and beans contain proteins as well. But proteins are not the only nutrients that play an important part in call structure. Fats, or lipids, are also vital to maintain healthy cells as well as to carry out a number of important processes in the body. Foods such as butter and margarine and oils are rich in fat. Fats also satisfy some of the body’s energy needs and are also used as energy storage mediums.

The last two types of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, are called micronutrients because they are only required by the body in small amounts. Vitamins are chemical compounds needed by the body in small amounts to perform a plethora of different functions. They play essential parts in growth and development by making possible thousands of chemical reactions which can not take place without them. The body requires thirteen types of vitamins, found in a wide variety of food such as fruits, vegetables, grains and meat. Minerals are quite similar to vitamins in terms of their functions in the body. They too are vital participants in chemical reactions in many important processes such as oxygen transportation. They are also need for growth and development, such as the mineral calcium and phosphorous are needed to build bones and teeth.

Lastly, water is a part of a number of chemical reactions. In fact, about 70 percent of the body’s weight is because of water. It forms the basis of a number of important processes, which is why a good balanced diet must include water as well as water containing fruits and vegetables.

In short, the body needs a number of nutrients, which can be provided through a balanced diet. The balanced diet must be specific to the person depending on his or her dietary needs and deficiencies. Doctors also recommend the use of supplements to provide nutrients in case of deficiencies. In the end, it all comes down to maintaining a healthy body, which is only possible through maintaining a balanced diet.