Nutrients And Vitamins

Nutrients

The foods we eat are made up of different components that we call nutrients. These nutrients are divided into two categories:

• Macronutrients make up the largest part of the food we eat and supply us with the energy we need for daily life and for physical exercise.

• Micronutrients are found in small amounts in food. They include vitamins and minerals, which help in energy transfer and tissue synthesis.

Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats Macronutrients

Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats Macronutrients are the human body’s direct sources of energy: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Macronutrients supply us with the energy we need for daily life and for physical exercise.

• Carbohydrates—4 Calories per gram (kilocalories)

• Protein—4 Calories per gram (kilocalories)

• Fat—9 Calories per gram (kilocalories)

Vitamins and Minerals

Micronutrients act as co-agents in the bioenergetic process. They do not provide energy themselves but rather play an indispensable role in helping the body’s metabolic processes along.

• Vitamins help to regulate metabolic reactions in the body, in contrast to other dietary components (e.g., fats, carbohydrates, and proteins), which are utilized in the reactions.

• Minerals (such as iron) are inorganic substances needed by the body for good health. Besides helping the body get energy from macronutrients, minerals help produce bones, proteins, and blood.