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Sabtu, 01 Juni 2013

Types of Nutrients & Vitamins

Types of Nutrients & Vitamins

The body breaks down the foods we eat in order to use nutrients found in these items. While many people focus on eating healthy foods in order to maintain a healthy weight, not getting the proper nutrients can cause problems beyond weight gain. There are six types of nutrients, and within one type of nutrient group, vitamins, there are numerous types the body needs to survive.

Carbohydrates

    Carbohydrates are primarily responsible for fueling your body, giving you energy throughout the day. Some carbohydrates, like table sugar, are broken down very quickly for quick bursts of energy, while other carbohydrates, like whole grains, are more complex. Complex carbohydrates take longer to break down and thus fuel you with energy slowly throughout the day.

Fat

    Fat is a nutrient that the body can store to provide energy when you do not eat enough carbohydrates. Excess carbohydrates can also be broken down and stored in the body as fat.

Protein

    Protein provides the body with material to grow. Where carbohydrates and fats are broken down to produce energy, protein is broken down to give your body material for tissue repair and growth.

Water

    Water is used by the body 24 hours a day, and at any given time, you are actually composed of 50 to 55 percent water. When the body breaks down carbohydrates, fats and proteins, it produces heat, and water helps keep your temperature regulated.Water is also used to transport other nutrients throughout the body.

Minerals

    Minerals are nutrients that provide building material for your body, like protein. For example, the mineral calcium is used to build bones. Some minerals are also responsible for helping to regulate body functions.

Vitamin A

    Vitamin A is one of the 13 vitamins that your body needs, according to MedlinePlus. This vitamin is an antioxidant, so its primary role is to protect your cells from harmful substances that are introduced to the body. It is also responsible for bone growth, vision, reproduction and improving the functions of your cells and immune system.

The B Vitamins

    There are eight vitamins in the "B" category: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B6, biotin, B12 and folic acid. These vitamins all help the body process other nutrients from food, and they also form the red blood cells found in your circulatory system.

Vitamin C

    Like Vitamin A, Vitamin C is an antioxidant. It also promotes healing, helps your body use iron and keeps your skin and bones healthy.

Vitamin D

    Vitamin D is unique in that you can get it not only from food products, but also from absorbing sunlight. This vitamin plays a role in helping your body use calcium and in keeping your nervous system, immune system and muscles healthy and functioning.

Vitamin E

    Vitamin E is also an antioxidant. In addition to protecting your body, it keeps your metabolism in check and plays a role in the health of your immune system.

Vitamin K

    Vitamin K is responsible for processing the proteins your body uses as building material. It is also the vitamin responsible for causing your blood to clot if you're injured. Newborns have nearly no Vitamin K when born.

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