Supplying the body with essential nutrients is one of the main reasons why people need to eat. Essential nutrients are nutritional components that allow the body to perform functions that would otherwise not be possible and which could lead to a deterioration of health or death. There are six nutritional components that fall into this category. These are fats, proteins, water, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
Water is the most important of the essential nutrients. The body is composed largely of water. Actually, all of the body’s tissues contain this nutrient. It is needed for the digestive process to function properly and for proper blood production. It is, therefore, very important to shower the body with a sufficient supply of water.
Many of the dietary components that popular weight loss plans advise people to drastically reduce or eliminate are important parts of the human diet. In addition to being important, they are essential, meaning that when the body lacks sufficient amounts, the body does not function properly. Two prime examples of essential nutrients that often have bad reputations are carbohydrates and fats.
One important role of the human diet is to provide the body with energy. There are three types of essential nutrients that can fulfill this capacity — fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. The body’s preferred source of energy, however, is carbohydrates, which reveals how unwise diet plans are that advise people to eliminate these nutrients.
Fats and proteins also have other important functions. One important role of fats is that they act as insulation, thereby, helping humans regulate their body temperatures. Every cell in the human body contains protein. This means that without sufficient protein, proper cellular development is not possible.
Vitamins are organic materials the body extracts from food so certain processes can be maintained. Energy consumption is a good example. Without vitamins, the body could not process the energy derived from the other nutrients. Vitamins are also responsible for regulating metabolism.
Minerals are inorganic materials. These substances are needed to regulate bodily processes and help build bodily structures. For example, minerals are needed for the formation of bones and hormones.
Essential nutrients tend to work together to keep the body functioning. However, there is one thing they have in common that makes them essential. These nutrients must be obtained by consumption. Although the human body is dependent on them, it is either incapable of producing them or incapable of producing sufficient amounts of them to maintain human health.