Types of Nutrients
Macronutrients
Foods that we eat everyday contain components for our body and immune system to be healthy. The main components of food are proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fluids. They are called macronutrients. We can get nutrients through the said components and we must consider it in choosing the right nutritious foods.
Proteins
- Proteins are made up of amino acids that combines to become the skin, hair and other parts of immune system and body lining.
- Foods that are rich in proteins are fishes, chickens, beefs, eggs, peanuts, beans, milks and others. Be sure to eat exact amount of proteins in your meal to provide exact amount of amino acids in your body.
- The right meal must contain 2-3 parts of meat everyday, ½ cup of beans, 1/3 cup of tofu or 2 eggs.
Fats
- There are different kinds of fats and each of this has its own rule in our body. One of its functions is to help vitamin A, D, E and K to flow in our body.
- Polysaturated fats come from vegetable oils like margarines, corn and peanut oils. It can lower the amount of T-cells in our immune system and will not affect the amount of cholesterol in our body.
- Mono-saturated fats come from vegetable oils like olive oil and canola oil. It is not harmful in our immune system.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are called essential fatty acids because it comes from the food we eat like fish and beans. It is very beneficial in controlling heart disease and makes our immune system healthy.
Carbohydrates
- Carbohydrates make our body strong in our daily life. It can be found in simple sugars and complex carbohydrates are in foods like bread, rice, cereals, fruits and vegetables. Complex carbohydrates are better than simple sugars because it contains vitamins and minerals.
- Eating the right amount of food must contain 5-12 grain products and 5-10 fruits and vegetables everyday.
Fluids
- Our body composition has greater percentage of water. It helps in the proper flow of nutrients in our entire body and makes our kidney healthy. The water that we eliminate all day in the form of sweat and urine should be replaced by drinking lots of water.
- Each of us should drink 8 glasses a day to be completely healthy.
