Typically, good nutrition is essential for having a healthy body. Having proper nutrition means that your body gets all the essential nutrients it needs to function properly. These nutrients are important because they can help produce the energy you need, build and make all parts of your body stronger, such as bones, muscles, and teeth, and, more importantly, keep your body in good working condition or such as Zesty Z that has healthy food products to choose from.
Out of several nutrients available, here are five which are needed by your body:
In This Article
Fat
One of the essential nutrients that your body should have is fats since they’re considered the major fuel source of energy inside your body. When you eat foods that are rich in fats, you’ll have the energy to function properly, such as keeping your brain going during the day.
However, it’s important to note that excessive consumption of fats can be unhealthy for you and your body. Hence, you should be careful with your food choices. Make sure to eat foods rich in healthy fats, such as oil, nuts, butter, fish, meat, and other dairy products.
Vitamins
Vitamins are important to help keep our immune systems strong and they can help regulate blood sugar levels. Here’s only a handful of vitamins that you must take to maintain your health:
Vitamin D: It’s important to get a sufficient amount of this vitamin to ensure healthy growth and development of bones and teeth and resistance against certain diseases. For instance, when your body doesn’t get the right amount of vitamin D, you may have bone abnormalities such as osteoporosis and many more.
Moreover, vitamin D is also known as ‘sunlight vitamin,’ which is important in maintaining calcium for your bones, especially during winter. During this season, you may not be able to get an adequate amount of sunlight, which is why you should always take vitamin D from other food sources, such as red meat, egg yolks, and many more, for your health.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A helps improve the production of collagen. This is important for a variety of reasons, including healthy skin and hair. Vitamin A can also aid in lowering cholesterol.
When taken in sufficient amounts, vitamin A will reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.
Vitamin C: This vitamin is an antioxidant and is vital to the body’s immune system. It helps the body fight against infection and bacteria. Vitamin C can also help with digestion. If you don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, you may need to take a supplement to get the right amount of this vitamin.
Folic Acid and Folate: Folic Acid is needed by the body to properly develop healthy red blood cells and it’s used by the body to control the growth of new blood vessels. This process also helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. Folic acid helps the body metabolize vitamin B12, which is another important vitamin required for the development of red blood cells.
Meanwhile, Folate is essential for the human brain’s proper functioning, which helps in learning, memory, and thinking. This vitamin is needed for the skin and hair to have the proper amount of vitamin A. When there’s a lack of this vitamin, the skin will be dry, brittle, and discolored.
However, while these two substances are both forms of vitamin B9 and are used interchangeably, there’s a distinction between folate vs folic acid that you need to know from the beginning. For example, folate acid is naturally found in food, whereas folic acid is the synthetic form that’s usually used in supplements and added to processed products.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are needed to convert fats into energy and to regulate insulin levels. They also supply the body with glucose, which is necessary for nerve transmission. A lack of carbohydrates can cause a variety of diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
For example, fiber is a type of carb that can’t be digested but it can be essential for regular digestive function. As it passes through your body undigested, it can help keep hunger in check and regulate your blood sugar levels.
Protein
Another essential nutrient that your body needs is protein. It’s often considered the building block of your body as it helps build and repair muscle tissues. When you consume food rich in protein, you may be able to fight off infection and other diseases, which is necessary for maintaining a healthy brain and organs, including the kidneys, livers, and bones.
However, like fats and other nutrients, not all protein-rich food sources can be good for your health. For example, the protein you find from plant sources, such as soy products, legumes, nuts, and many more have a good amount of fiber and other health-promoting nutrients that are crucial for having a healthy body.
Therefore, if you want to fuel your muscles with the power they need throughout your day, eating a high protein breakfast can be one of the early morning habits you can practice to ensure a more productive day.
Minerals
Minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium help with bone health. Your body can produce these natural nutrients but, in most cases, you get more than enough from the foods we eat.
Below is a quick look at the essential minerals that your body needs:
Calcium plays an important role in a healthy body. It helps build bone, teeth, and is also essential for healthy muscle. A lack of calcium may lead to several serious health problems, such as osteoporosis and kidney disease.
Sodium is also known as ‘normal salt.’ Your body needs sodium to maintain proper levels of potassium, which is responsible for regulating mineral balance and fluid inside and out the body’s cells.
While sodium and potassium are closely interconnected, it’s important to note that both of them have opposite effects on your body. For example, a high intake of salt may increase blood pressure, which may also lead to heart disease. On the other hand, high potassium intake may help relax blood vessels and expel excessive sodium, thereby lowering your blood pressure. In other words, your body needs more potassium than sodium to maintain physiological balance inside your body.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, nutrients are essential to having a healthy life since they provide people with energy, building blocks for muscle growth and repair, and other substances for regulating chemical processes. Now that you know the five essential nutrients, it’s important to keep them all in your diet so you can reap the benefits of healthy life in the long run.
