
There are six basic nutrients needed by our bodies:
- PROTEIN - needed for building and repairing and keeping us resistant to infections. ...
- CARBOHYDRATES - needed for energy. ...
- FATS - also supply energy. ...
- VITAMINS - these include the fat-soluble like A, D, E, K and the water-soluble like the B vitamins and C.
- MINERALS - these include calcium, potassium, sodium, and iron to name just a few. ...
What are 6 essential nutrients and why do we need them?
6 Essential Nutrients and Why Your Body Needs Them 1 Protein. 2 Carbohydrates. 3 Fats. 4 Vitamins. 5 Minerals. 6 Water.
What are the six classes of nutrients?
There are six classes of nutrients required for the body to function and maintain overall health. These are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, water, vitamins, and minerals.
What are the nutrients in food?
What are the nutrients? The foods we eat contain nutrients. Nutrients are substances required by the body to perform its basic functions. Nutrients must be obtained from our diet since the human body can not make them.
Why do we need nutrients in our diet?
The foods we eat contain nutrients. Nutrients are substances required by the body to perform its basic functions. Nutrients must be obtained from our diet since the human body can not make them. Nutrients have one or more of three basic functions: they provide energy, contribute to body structure, and/or regulate chemical processes in the body.

What are the 6 basic nutrients your body needs?
The six essential nutrients are vitamins, minerals, protein, fats, water, and carbohydrates.
What are the 6 basic nutrients and what is their main function?
These basic functions allow us to detect and respond to environmental surroundings, move, excrete wastes, breathe, grow, and reproduce. There are six classes of nutrients required for the body to function and maintain overall health. These are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, water, vitamins, and minerals.
What are the 6 types of nutrients and their functions quizlet?
Terms in this set (7)6 major classes of nutrients are: carbohydrates, lipids (fats), proteins, minerals, vitamins, and water.Water (H2O) Non-energy yielding (no calories) ... Minerals (copper, iron, cobalt, chromium) Non-energy yielding micronutrient. ... Vitamins (A, B, C, D, E...) ... Carbohydrates (CHO) ... Proteins. ... Lipids (Fats)
What are the 6 essential nutrients quizlet?
Terms in this set (27)Carbohydrates.Fats.Proteins.Vitamins.Minerals.Water.
What are the essential nutrients and their importance?
An essential nutrient is a nutrient that the body cannot synthesize on its own -- or not to an adequate amount -- and must be provided by the diet. These nutrients are necessary for the body to function properly. The six essential nutrients include carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and water.
What is the primary function of carbohydrates and what foods contain carbohydrates?
Introduction. Alongside fat and protein, carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients in our diet with their main function being to provide energy to the body. They occur in many different forms, like sugars and dietary fibre, and in many different foods, such as whole grains, fruit and vegetables.
What are the main sources of nutrients?
Getting them through food ensures your body can absorb them properly. Try to eat a variety of foods to get different vitamins and minerals. Foods that naturally are nutrient-rich include fruits and vegetables. Lean meats, fish, whole grains, dairy, legumes, nuts, and seeds also are high in nutrients.
What is the importance of the nutrients in the human body?
Nutrients are the fuel we need to enable the body to break down food and then put this to use in the body to repair and build cells and tissue, which is basically our metabolism.
What are the nutrients that make a healthy diet?
To help you create a balanced, healthy diet, here’s a breakdown of six important nutrients and what they do for your body. 1. Carbohydrates. If you’re trying to lose weight, you might have tried going on a “low-carb” diet. But this popular dieting method gives all carbohydrates a bad name, when, in reality, eating enough “good” carbs is essential ...
What are the nutrients that are needed for cell growth?
Fats are another nutrient that get a bad rap but are a necessary part of our diets. As with carbohydrates, the key is to eat the right amount of “good” fats and stay away from “bad” fats. Healthy fats like those found in avocados, walnuts, olive oil, and wild-caught salmon give your body energy, support cell growth, ...
What is the best vitamin for teeth?
Calcium. This is needed for strong bones and teeth. Make sure you’re also getting enough vitamin D so that your body can absorb the calcium it gets from food sources.
What is the best vitamin for the nervous system?
Vitamin E. Like vitamin C, vitamin E is a strong antioxidant, so it can help to support your immune system. It is also needed to help protect your nervous system.
What is the role of vitamin D in the body?
Since it also plays a key role in collagen production, this vitamin promotes good joint and skin health as well. Vitamin D. Your body needs enough vitamin D in order to absorb calcium.
What are the best vitamins for mental health?
Some of the most common vitamins are: B complex vitamins, which include B12, B6, and folate. These vitamins help to increase energy, support good mental health, and create red blood cells. Vitamin C. A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C helps to support the immune system.
What are the best foods to eat to increase your energy?
Healthy fats like those found in avocados, walnuts, olive oil, and wild-caught salmon give your body energy, support cell growth, and create hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Limit fat intake to 25% to 30% of your diet. 3. Proteins.
How many nutrients are there in the human body?
There are six major nutrients – water, carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Each plays a unique and important role in how our bodies function. What would you like to know about each nutrient as we explore each one? What questions do you have about how a nutrient is used in the body or what foods have a specific nutrient? We’d love to know what information you’re interested in as we plan future posts about each nutrient group.
What are the minerals in the body?
There are six major nutrients – water, carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.
What are the main sources of energy in the body?
Carbohydrates (carbs for short) are the main sources of energy in our body. In our body, blood sugar is the fuel that powers cells. Carbohydrates can be simple (easy to digest) in the form of sugar or complex (more difficult to digest) in the form of starch or fiber. We actually can’t digest fiber, but it plays an important role in gut health and cholesterol metabolism. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 45-65% of calories in our diet come from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, sugar, honey, and dairy foods.
What percentage of calories are carbs?
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 45-65% of calories in our diet come from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, sugar, honey, and dairy foods.
Why are vitamins important?
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. Vitamins are classified as water-soluble (B complex vitamins and vitamin C) or fat-soluble (vitamins A, D, E, & K). Almost every food contains some type of vitamin and we’ll go into more specific detail as we look at each vitamin in future posts.
Why is water important?
Water. Water makes up 45-75% of our bodies and is important for good health. Water is used in different body processes and helps to regulate our temperature. Blood and other body fluids are mostly water, which helps to carry nutrients around the body and in and out of cells.
Where do we get our fats?
Fats are found in animal products, dairy foods, and oils from different plants, like olives, avocados, canola seeds, or coconuts.
What are the six classes of nutrients that are essential for human survival?
Bowl of fresh fruit on table. There are six classes of essential nutrients necessary for human survival: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals and water.
What is the best way to get nutrients?
The best way to get these nutrients is by following a varied, healthy diet featuring plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, nonfat dairy products and healthy fats. Dietary requirements vary with age and sex. Consult your physician or a registered dietitian about the diet that is best for you.
What is the difference between vitamins and minerals?
Vitamins are organic compounds produced by living beings, while minerals are inorganic elements that originate in the earth. Vitamins and minerals support the body's biochemical processes. Each of the vitamins and minerals has a distinct function, including regulating metabolism, guarding the cells from oxidative stress and synthesizing hormones.
What is the importance of water in the body?
Comprising 60 percent of your body weight, water is vital for the normal functioning of all your body's systems. It helps cleanse your body of wastes and toxins, carries essential nutrients to your cells, lubricates your joints and helps maintain your body temperature.
Why are fats important?
You may think of lipids, or fats, as dietary enemies, but they are as necessary to the body's normal functioning as the other essential nutrients. Dietary fat helps the absorption of vitamins, supports cell membrane health and helps maintain the immune system. Not all fats are equal.
Is it possible to get enough protein?
Getting enough protein is rarely a problem in industrialized countries such as the U.S. Complete proteins from animal sources contain all the amino acids your body needs for normal functioning. Plant sources only contain incomplete proteins, meaning some amino acids are missing.
What are the six essential nutrients?
The six essential nutrients are vitamins, minerals, protein, fats, water, and carbohydrates .
How many types of nutrients are needed for a healthy body?
A person needs to consume all six types of essential nutrients to ensure the best possible health. These nutrients support vital functions, including growth, the immune, the central nervous system, and preventing disease.
What are micronutrients and macronutrients?
Micronutrients are nutrients that a person needs in small doses. Micronutrients consist of vitamins and minerals. Although the body only needs small amounts of them, a deficiency can cause ill health. Macronutrients are nutrients that a person needs in larger amounts.
What are the benefits of eating fat?
Fats provide the body with energy and help it carry out a range of functions. However, it is essential to consume healthful fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and limit or avoid saturated and trans fats.
What are the two categories of essential nutrients?
The WHO divide these essential nutrients into two categories: micronutrients and macronutrients. Micronutrients are nutrients that a person needs in small doses. Micronutrients consist of vitamins and minerals.
How many vitamins are there in the body?
There are 13 essential vitamins that nutritionists divide into two groups: fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins are: Water soluble vitamins are: Typically, a person who eats a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins can get all the vitamins they need in their food.
How many nutrients do we need to maintain optimal health?
A person’s body cannot produce everything that it needs to function. There are six essential nutrients that people need to consume through dietary sources to maintain optimal health.
What are the six classes of nutrients that are needed for the body to function?
There are six classes of nutrients required for the body to function and maintain overall health. These are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, water, vitamins, and minerals.
What are the nutrients?
The foods we eat contain nutrients. Nutrients are substances required by the body to perform its basic functions. Nutrients must be obtained from our diet since the human body can not make them. Nutrients have one or more of three basic functions: they provide energy, contribute to body structure, and/or regulate chemical processes in the body. These basic functions allow us to detect and respond to environmental surroundings, move, excrete wastes, breathe, grow, and reproduce. There are six classes of nutrients required for the body to function and maintain overall health. These are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, water, vitamins, and minerals. Foods also contain non-nutrient that may be harmful such as natural toxins common in plant foods and additives like some dyes and preservatives or beneficial like antioxidants.
How many calories are in a gram of carbohydrates?
One gram of digestible carbohydrates yields four kilocalories of energy for the body’s cells to perform work. Besides providing energy and serving as building blocks for bigger macromolecules, carbohydrates are essential for the nervous system’s proper functioning, heart, and kidneys. As mentioned, glucose can be stored in the body for future use. In humans, the storage molecule of carbohydrates is called glycogen, and in plants, it is known as starch. Glycogen and starch are complex carbohydrates.
How many micronutrients are there?
Micronutrients include all the essential minerals and vitamins. There are sixteen essential minerals and thirteen vitamins. In contrast to carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, micronutrients are not sources of energy (calories), but they assist in the process as cofactors or components of enzymes (i.e., coenzymes).
What are the main sources of carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The major food sources of carbohydrates are grains, milk, fruits, and starchy vegetables, like potatoes. Non-starchy vegetables also contain carbohydrates but in lesser quantities.
What is the function of the body system?
Regulate body processes and promote normal body-system functions. Regulate body processes, are necessary for proper cellular function, and comprise body tissue. Transports essential nutrients to all body parts, transports waste products for disposal, and aids with body temperature maintenance.
What are the functions of nutrients?
Nutrients have one or more of three basic functions: they provide energy, contribute to body structure, and/or regulate chemical processes in the body. These basic functions allow us to detect and respond to environmental surroundings, move, excrete wastes, breathe, grow, and reproduce.
