How many nutrient groups are there

Some of the amino acids are convertible with the expenditure of energy to glucose and can be used for energy production just as ordinary glucose. By breaking down existing protein, some glucose can be produced internally; the remaining amino acids are discarded, primarily as urea in urine. This occurs naturally when atrophy takes place, or during periods of starvation. Other micronutrients include antioxidants and phytochemicals which are said to influence or protect some body systems.

Their necessity is not as well established as in the case of, for instance, vitamins. Most foods contain a mix of some or all of the nutrient classes, together with other substances. Some nutrients can be stored internally e.

Poor health can be caused by a lack of required nutrients or, in extreme cases, too much of a required nutrient. For example, both salt and water both absolutely required will cause illness or even death in too large amounts. Nutrients: 7 Major Classes There are seven major classes of nutrients: 1. Water These nutrient classes can be categorized as either macronutrients needed in relatively large amounts or micronutrients needed in smaller quantities.

There are many kinds of vitamins from various food groups and they participate in different body metabolism such as maintaining healthy skin and hair, building bones and releasing and utilizing energy from foods. Vitamins can be classified into water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.

Minerals are a group of essential nutrients which regulate many body functions such as fluid balance, muscle contraction and transmission of nerve impulses. Some minerals also contribute to body structure and build strong and healthy bones, such as calcium. Dietary fibre is the indigestible part found in plant. It helps stablise blood sugar, promote gastrointestinal health and prevent constipation.

Dietary fibre can be classified into soluble and insoluble fibre. Water is the most abundant substance in human body and is also an essential nutrient to maintain our health. The major functions of water include regulation of body temperature, production of body fluids, transportation of nutrients and removal of waste products.

Although each nutrient performs different functions in our body, they all work together and contribute to our good health. Meat, dairy, poultry, seafood, beans, peas, nuts, seeds, and dairy foods are the best sources of protein. Fat is our most concentrated source of energy, providing double the amount of calories per gram.

Fat is how our bodies store extra calories for later use. Despite this less desirable function, fats are important to health in other processes, too. Fat is used in metabolic processes as part of hormones, insulate our bodies, and provide shock absorption to protect different body parts in our palms or soles of our feet and around internal organs.

Some fats, like Omega-3s, are essential and we must get them from our diets. Fats are found in animal products, dairy foods, and oils from different plants, like olives, avocados, canola seeds, or coconuts. Although needed in much smaller amounts than the previous nutrients, vitamins are essential for your body to function.

Each vitamin works as part of a different process in your body, helping make your metabolism, growth, and development, or immune system among many other functions work properly.