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Nutrients Your Body Requires

Are you getting the nutrients your body requires?

Your body needs minerals and vitamins to convert food into energy.

You need a wide variety of healthy foods from all of the food groups to ensure your body is getting what it needs.

With your busy schedule in today's world, you tend to skip meals while you're on the go.

Most days you don't consume enough of the right foods to get the required minerals and vitamins that you need.

If that's you, consider adding supplements to your diet.

The Nutrients Our Body Needs

Carbohydrates: They provide energy, they are the primary sources of calories, starch and fiber. They are either sugars (simple) or starches (complex). The sugars will give you a quick energy fix, but they just leave you craving more. You need to eat the starches which provide energy, such as potatoes, bread, rice, cereals, fruits and vegetables.

Fats: Fats are classified as saturated or unsaturated. This is a chemical distinction. Saturated fat increases the cholesterol content of the blood. This includes butter, cheese, milk and some meats. polyunsaturated fats are found in fish and vegetable oils, they do not add to the cholesterol content. Monounsaturated fats are found in nuts and fruit. Fats provide more than twice the calories than proteins and carbohydrates. They also accumulate in your body in large quantities and used for energy later. You do need some fats for the metabolic process.

Proteins: Protein is the most essential component because the body's composition consists of proteins. The heart, muscles, lungs, brain and gastrointestinal organs are made up largely of protein, and protein consistently needs replenished. Meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and milk products are primary protein foods that contain the amino acids.

Water makes up about 55 to 65 per cent of our body's weight. It's continuously eliminated and needs replaced regularly. You can live a few weeks without food, but you can only live a few days without water. That's why the recommended daily water intake is eight glasses of water every day.

Vitamins

Vitamins are in minute quantities in food in the natural state. Vitamins are essential nutrients for normal metabolism and development and maintenance of tissue. Each vitamin plays a role in your health. If any particular vitamin is missing from your diet for an excessive prolonged period, a specific disease can result.

- Vitamin A: Supports bone growth, healthy skin, night vision and resists infection.

- Vitamin C: Supports blood cells, the immune system and promotes healing.

- Vitamin D: Assists the body in absorbing calcium.

- Vitamin E: Supports red blood cells production.

- Vitamin K: Enables the production of the blood clotting factor.

- Calcium: It's vital for building strong bones and teeth, and helps the blood to clot.

- Thiamin (B1): Thiamin assists the body in transferring carbohydrates into energy. This is required for the nervous system, muscles and heart to function correctly.

- Riboflavin: Riboflavin is essential for turning carbohydrates into energy and producing red blood cells. It is also important for vision.

- Niacin: Niacin assists the body in conversion of food into energy. It aids in digestion and is significant for nerve function.

Minerals

Minerals are essential nutrients that are needed for normal metabolism and for maintenance of good health.

- Iron: Iron's main purpose is combining copper and protein to produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in your blood to tissues needing oxygen for basic body functions.

- Copper: Copper is essential in aiding and absorption of iron. It assists Vitamin C in producing Elastin.

- Iodine: Iodine assists in the growth and performance of the thyroid gland. It controls fabrication of energy and aids fat burning by boosting metabolism.

- Manganese: Manganese is an antioxidant nutritional supplement. It's significant breaking down the amino acids in the blood. It's essential for metabolism of Vitamin E and B-1. It breaks down fats and cholesterol and helps nourish the nerves and brain.

- Zinc: Zinc is an antioxidant nutritional supplement, it's essential for producing protein. It promotes healing and development of the prostate functions and male hormone activity and reproductive organs. It helps in normal tissue function and aids in the digestion and metabolism of phosphorus.

- Potassium: Potassium assists sodium in controlling the body's heart rhythms and waste balance It assists in carrying oxygen to the brain that results in clearer thinking. It helps eliminate body waste by stimulation of the kidneys and it helps reduce high blood pressure.

- Trace Minerals: Trace minerals are necessary in the absorption and use of nutrients and vitamins. They assist in digestion and supply the means for many enzymes, hormones and necessary body purposes and responses.

Nutrients are essential for your body to function properly and to maintain excellent women's health.