The Types of Nutrients
As mentioned earlier, having good nutrition can help ward of illnesses and diseases and the way in which this is achieved is by eating the right things, and avoiding the foods that are bad. Of course, there are going to be moments where you will indulge in pizza, or maybe a chocolate bar, and that’s fine, provided it doesn’t become any everyday occurrence. The interesting thing is, however, it’s not so much as to what you’re eating, but what those items contain. The reason why healthy nutrition is important, is because food is made up of nutrients. These nutrients are compounds that are vital to healthy life, and can help grow and repair our bodies, and regulate our chemical processes. The six main nutrients vital for good health are Carbohydrates, Lipids (also known as fats), Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals and Water.
CARBOHYDRATES – Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body. Reduce your carbohydrate intake, and your body will use protein and fat for energy which isn’t as effective and also reduces the amount of protein and fat available for their own function. Foods that are high in carbohydrates include rice, pasta, sugar and potatoes among others.
LIPIDS – Lipids are used as an energy store, insulation for the body and a source of making cell membranes. Whilst lipids are the scientific name, they are more commonly known as fats. There are two main types of fate – saturated and unsaturated. The difference between these two is that saturated fats lack double bonds between the carbon atoms. The reason why this is bad is because saturated fats can increase your level of bad cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, increasing the chance of developing heart conditions. Unsaturated fats on the other hand provide the body with good cholesterol, HDL cholesterol. This is capable of taking cholesterol from places where there is too much, and moving it to the liver where it can be disposed. Saturated fats can be found on animals so meat and seafood will contain saturated fats, however, oils, nuts and seeds will contain unsaturated fats.
PROTEINS – Protein is the factory of the cells. All of the cells in your body will contain protein, and because of this, you need protein to create and repair cells. Protein is particularly important during times of development. This includes, childhood, teens and pregnant women. High-protein foods include meat, dairy and eggs.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS – These two nutrients are often lumped together because they have similar functions for the body. Whilst carbohydrates and other nutrients perform one or two roles in the body, vitamins and minerals perform hundreds, including building stronger bones, healing wounds, bolstering your immune system just to name a few. The good news is that mostly all foods, particularly the good ones, will contain vitamins and minerals.
WATER – Water is arguably the most important thing that we know of that can support life. Just think about it, when we search for potential Earth-like planets, we search for liquid water. This is because almost every living species on Earth requires water to survive, and we’re no different. Water is needed for waste, both from bowels and other areas, but also through sweat, and add to this that in order to work effectively, all the cells in your body need water. Drinking too much water can be harmful, but in order for this to happen, numerous litres of water need to be consumed hourly, so unless you’ve got quite the thirst on, there is nothing to worry about.
There really isn’t too much need to go into detail as to what illnesses your body can ward off when given a healthy diet as it is self-explanatory. Keeping your diet balanced, within range, and taking on the necessary nutrients on board daily, then your body will be able to complete its job, to the maximum efficiency. This means warding off illnesses, preventing future diseases, and increasing your mental health. Afterall, a healthy body is a healthy mind.