5 Types of Nutrients

There are 5 Types of Nutrients:

1. Carbohydrates

-- Energy-Giving Nutrients.

-- Produce energy that we need to keep warm and to function properly.

-- Excess Carboyhydrates will be converted into FATS and stored in our bodies.(lead to weight gain and obesity)

2. Fats

-- Source of energy

-- Provide body with more energy than the same amount of Carbohydrates.

-- Prevent heat loss, Keep us warm

-- Protect organs

-- Found in both plants and animals.(Also found in Corn oil, olive oil, butter and lard)

-- Over consumption causes obesity, which leads to heart diseases.

3. Proteins

-- Required for Growth, repair and maintenance of cells.

-- Alternative source of energy.

-- F0und in both animals and plants.(e.g. meat, fish, milk, soya beans, etc)

-- Too little proteins leads to kwashiorkor.

-- Too much proteins leads to obesity and loss of calcium from bones

4. Vitamins

-- Protect our bodies from diseases and keep our bodies functioning.

-- Needed only in small amount.

-- Lack of vitamins may lead to serious health problems and diseases.

-- There are 4 types of vitamins:

1. Vitamin A (Fat-Soluble)
2. Vitamin B (Water-Soluble)
3. Vitamin C (Water-Soluble)
4. Vitamin D (Fat-Soluble)

-- Vitamin A : Usually found in egg yolks, liver, dairy products and yellow/orangr/dark green vegetables and fruits. Needed for healthy skin and formation of visual purple (helps us see better in dim lights) in our eyes. Lack of it will cause dry skin, night-blindness and the reduce of the ability to fight off diseases.

-- Vitamin B : Found in cereals, meat, fish and milk. Needed to release energy from the food we eat. Required for normal growth of children (Vitamin B1).

-- Vitamin C : Found in Green leafy vegetables and Fruits( especially cirtrus fruits). Needed to absorb iron from the food we eat and help wounds to heal. Lack of it will cos Scurvy, the bleeding and swollening of the gums and loose of teeth.

-- Vitamin D : Found in Milk, Margarine and Fish Liver Oil. Needed to build strong bones and teeth and to absorb calcium from the food we eat. Lack of it would cause bones to weaken and be unable to support the body, as well as teeth and gum problems.

5. Minerals

-- Help our bodies stay healthy and function well.

-- Needed in very small amount.

--Obtained by eating a variety of foods in the correct amount.

-- There are 3 important minerals:

1. Sodium-- Helps muscles and nerves to function properly. Maintains the fluid balance in our bodies. Found in processes food. Lack of it can cause tiredness and muscle cramps. Too much sodium causes hypertension, which causes people to suffer from high blood pressure as well as dizziness and headaches.
2. Iron-- Needed to form red blood cellsm which carries oxygen in our bodies. Found in Liver, Kidneys and Dark Green Vegetables. Lack of it leads to anaemia, which causes people to be often short of breath and to feel weak and tired.
3. Calcium-- Needed to form Strong Bones and Teeth. Mostly found in Milk, Cheese, Fish and Green Vegetables. Lack of it results in weak and brittle bones. Brittle bones would break easily and may not be able to support the weight of the bodies.

From this, I can conclude that obesity is mostly due to the over consumption of Carbohydrates, Fats and Proteins. Apart from these 5 Nutrients, oud body also need Water and Dietary Fibre. These 2 are equally important for our bodies despite not being nutrients.