Nutrition is an essential part of health and development. Perfect nutrition is related to an enhanced child, infant, maternal health, more vital immune systems, and longevity. The nutrition in Beverly Hills team understands how important good nutrition is in maintaining your long-term health. The practice offers customized and comprehensive nutritional counseling services.
What are the different types of nutrients needed in the body?
There are two types of nutrients, macronutrients, and micronutrients.
Macronutrients include:
Carbohydrates
Fiber, sugar, starch are types of carbohydrates. The body quickly absorbs and breaks down sugars and processed starch. They provide instant energy but don’t leave someone feeling full. They cause spikes in sugar blood levels.
Fiber is a carbohydrate that the body breaks down and absorbs complex carbs. After absorbing fiber, a person will feel satisfied for a long time. Fiber reduces the risks of colorectal cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Proteins
Proteins have amino acids that are organic compounds occurring naturally. There are twenty different amino acids, where some are essential, meaning they have to be obtained from food, and the body can make the rest.
Some foods provide complete protein that contains all the essential amino acids needed by the body. Many plant-based foods do not have complete proteins, which means someone eating vegan food has to eat plenty of foods throughout the day to generate amino acids.
Fats
Fats are essential for helping organs produce hormones, reducing inflammation, lubricating joints, enabling the body to absorb vitamins, and preserving brain health. Too much fat can lead to liver diseases, high cholesterol, obesity, and other health problems.
Water
The human body has up to 60% water concentration, which is needed for many processes. Water doesn’t provide energy. Many people prefer consuming eight glasses or 2 liters of water daily but can also come from fruits and vegetables.
Requirements depend on a person’s age and body size, activity levels, environmental factors, and health status.
Micronutrients are essential in smaller quantities. They include minerals and vitamins. Manufacturers add them to foods sometimes, like rice and cereals.
Minerals
The body needs oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen. It also requires dietary minerals, such as potassium, iron, and many more. In some cases, a balanced diet provides the minerals that the body needs. If a deficiency occurs, supplements are recommended.
Nutritional deficiencies
If you have enough food to eat and are not eating a balanced diet, you can be in a position to get nutritional deficiencies. You can be at risk of nutritional deficiencies because of conditions like high blood pressure medications and pregnancy.
People having intestinal diseases may be at risk of having vitamin deficiencies, while people addicted to alcohol are at high risk of having nutritional deficiencies. The typical dietary deficiency is iron deficiency anemia. For the blood cells to supply the blood with oxygen, it needs iron, and if you have less iron, your body will malfunction. Low levels of vitamin B12 and folate are other nutritional deficiencies that can affect your blood cells.
Nutrition is the study of food and its effects on the body. It would be best if you ate a varied diet to have various nutrients. People prefer to follow a specific diet, where they focus on one particular type of food, avoiding others, which may improve their health. People should eat a balanced diet to prevent diseases and keep their bodies healthy at all times.