The Key Nutrients We Get from Food

It is easy to justify our food intake by adding pills or powders to our diets. Is it better to take your critical nutrients in a capsule than to eat real food?

Most people are familiar with the importance of certain nutrients and how they can help your body function. Many of us were taught as children to eat carrots to improve our eyesight and milk to strengthen our bones. Eight glasses of water are recommended every day. How much of that advice still applies today?

Essential Nutrients Our Bodies Need

We need to eat a variety of food to support healthy body functions and brain development. These are the essential nutrients that our bodies require:

  • Water
  • Protein
  • Carbohydrates
  • Fat
  • Vitamins
    • A, C, D. E, K
    • Vitamin B vitamins: Thiamine, Riboflavin and Niacin.
  • Minerals
    • Calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and sulfur.
    • Trace minerals: Copper, chromium, fluoride, and iodine.

How to get the proper nutrients

Water is as bland as it may sound. However, it is the best way to stay hydrated. You can add flavor to your water to make it more appealing. Water can also be found in fresh fruits, but you must ingest the water daily for optimal performance. It is recommended that we consume half of our daily weight in ounces. If you are 130 lbs, 65 ounces would be your daily water intake.

Despite getting a bad reputation, Carbohydrates are vital for the energy supply to the brain and body. Carbohydrates are used to provide energy for the body. The body will use carbs to produce glucose. Without it, it will turn to protein to make glucose. Our muscles won’t have the energy they need to build and maintain mass if we use protein for energy production.

  • Simple carbohydrates can be considered sugars found in foods naturally or when added to food. Simple carbs are found in fruits, milk, and milk-derived products. Simple carbs can also be found in table sugar, which is added to many foods, such as baked goods, juice/soda, and cereal.
  • Complex carbohydrates are more difficult to digest and can give you a more prolonged feeling of fullness. Whole grains, vegetables, and fruits are good sources of complex carbohydrates.

Amino acids promote cell growth, and protein is made up of them. Protein can be obtained from meats or plants, such as eggs, dairy products, nuts, and beans. It would help if you had a variety of protein sources to fuel your cells for growth, regardless of where they are sourced. For more protein and fewer calories, if you are a meat eater, then choose lean cuts.

There are two types of fat: “Good” fat and “bad.” Contrary to popular belief, fat is essential in our diets. Fat is good for the body and helps to absorb vitamins. Fat is used to provide warmth and act as insulation. It provides cushioning for our organs and serves as a reserve energy storage and fuel for cell growth. It also helps regulate blood pressure and cholesterol. Understanding the impact of different fats on your body is essential.

  • Saturated fats are less desirable as they can increase your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. It’s found in cream, butter, animal meats, high-fat dairy products, cheese, and other foods.
  • There are two types of unsaturated fat:
    • Monounsaturated: avocados, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, plant oils
    • Polyunsaturated: Oils, nuts, seeds, and fish

While you can concentrate on eating unsaturated fats and other good fats, decreasing the amount of saturated fat in your diet is essential. You can replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats. However, eating more saturated fat will not negate the saturated fat.

Do you remember those carrots? As children, we were instructed to eat carrots to get the necessary vitamins to keep our eyes healthy. Although carrots have many health benefits, you need to eat 4.5 ounces of them six days a week for improvement. Some people cannot convert beta-carotene into enough vitamin A to improve their eyesight. What’s the point of eating vegetables?

Vitamins are good for skin, eyes, bone, muscle, and immune support and can help boost the nervous system. To get all the vitamins our bodies and minds require, we must eat various foods. Minerals are no different. Minerals, like vitamins, can also improve bone health, muscle function, and circulation.

Are Nutrition Supplements Effective?

There are many great ways to add nutrition to our daily diets. Supplementing our diet with capsule vitamins or powders can be beneficial, but it is not easy. It’s not as simple as taking a Flintstones vitamin every day. We may be getting too many of one vitamin or mineral and not enough of the other.

Do your research before you decide to take supplements. Consider your exercise levels and determine the best way to support your health with the right combination of food and supplements.

Isaac

Hello there! I am Freya, the mind behind Real Moms Real Views. Known for our brilliant take on the general things along with the topics that people want to be covered for easy decision-making, our blog has a spectacular reputation for being reliable and fun. Visit today to decide for yourself.

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