What is nutrition?

Nutrition is simply the learning of food happening in the bodies of humans, their source of energy and the method for which our nutrients can function. We can say that nutrition is the building of life itself.

There are six essential nutrients for life which are said below:

1. Carbohydrates
2. Proteins
3. Lipids (fat)
4. Fiber
5. Vitamins
6. Minerals & Water

Nutrition starts working in our life cycle from infancy to adolescence, adulthood and in our senior years.
The absorption of nutrients begins at the exact time our stomach begin to digest the food then they are sent to help all of the metabolic processes that exists in the human body.

The term "Good Nutrition" means that obtaining the correct amount of nutrients from healthy foods in the right order or mixture.

 Possessing the knowledge of nutrients and choosing the right kind of mixture of healthy foods to eat can or will definitely help you in achieving the ultimate health over the years of your lifetime. It will also be the key to preventing obesity, illness and a lot of the chronic diseases that exist nowadays.
Nutrition is one of the main points to improving and balancing good health.

Good health shows the meaning of a state of a complete healthy mind, body and spirit.
Nutrition can also be a cure or antidote for many of today's common problems such as stress, pollution and sexual vitality.

What is Nutrition for?

• To employ food to grow, repair and maintain the bodies of humans.
• Obtaining the right amount of nutrients from healthy foods in the correct mixture.
• Choosing clever choices about the food you eat.
• Proper nutrition assists you on developing and maintaining good health. 

Carbohydrates

Are simply sugars that breaks down inside the body to create glucose. Glucose is carried around the body in the blood and is the main origin of energy for the brain, muscles, and other important cells. The healthy body attempts to regulate glucose levels by using a series of hormones which are insulin and glucagon. The pancreas gland produces them.

Insulin lowers the blood levels by moving the glucose to various parts of the body and aiding its absorption, excess glucose can be stored in the liver or fat around the body.

What if you eat too many carbohydrates?

Eating too many carbohydrates will lead to weight gain, this is because the body will store unused glucose for later.

Proteins

The word 'Protein' refers to a type of molecule in food that can be broken into amino acids. The human body needs proteins to survive. When we eat, the body breaks down the protein in food in order to create amino acids that it needs.

What protein does for us?

Protein is the body's building block. All of our organs, including the skin, muscles, hair and nails are built from proteins. Many hormones are proteins and the immune system, digestive system and blood all rely on proteins to function correctly.

Fat

Fat is an essential nutrient needed in the human body.

Our bodies require small amounts of 'good fat' to function and help prevent diseases. However a lot of modern diets contain far more fat than the body needs. Too much fat, especially too much of the wrong type of fat, can cause serious health complaints including obesity, higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which in turn lead to a greater risk of heart disease.

Like protein, but not carbohydrates, fat is essential to human life, we all need fat in our diets:

Cholesterol is a type of fat found in the blood. Nearly all cholesterol in the body is produced by the liver, very little is found in foods although seafood, liver, kidney and eggs do contain some cholesterol.

Cholesterol is vital in the body, not just that it play a role in how all cells work but it is also a 'building block' for other essential chemicals that the body produces.

Video below shows a further explanation on the types of fats:

Fiber

Fiber is a type of complex carbohydrates (type of sugar) but unlike other carbohydrates which are broken down by the body to provide fuel in the form of glucose, fiber cannot be digested by the human body.

The benefits of fiber

•  High fiber foods help fill you up.
• Foods that are high in fiber keeps you feeling fuller for longer.
• Fiber is well known for regular bowel movements.
• Fiber is useful for maintaining healthy colon function.
• People who eat a lot of fiber are more likely to be slimmer.

Vitamins

Introduction to vitamins:

Vitamin is the name given to nutrients (Chemical Compounds) vital to health and well-being that cannot be produced by the body.

Vitamin A (Retinol)

Vitamin A is associated with vision. It helps us to see in dimly lit conditions and is important for color vision. It also helps strengthen the immune system and is useful for healthy skin.

We get Vitamin A from:

• Liver.
• Milk and Dairy Products.
• Oily fish.
• Vegetables (Carrots, Sweet potatoes, butternut squash, kale and lettuce).
• Herbs and Dried Herbs.
• Some red spices including paprika and cayene pepper.

Vitamin B (Thiamine)

Thiamine is not stored by the body so it needs to be replenished everyday. It is common in many foods and most people consume enough. The vitamin works with other vitamins in the B group to help in the production of glucose and other essential substances by breaking down food. It also keeps muscles and nerves healthy.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

Vitamin C is for humans but not other animals. Vitamin C plays an important role in the body which includes maintaining the health of connective tissue which supports the body's organs and other tissue. Essential in the production of hormones and a powerful antioxidant Vitamin C is also thought to lower the overall risk of cancer.

Vitamin D (Calciferol)

Vitamin D is an unusual and required in the human only in certain circumstances, because we got most of our Vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D is important in the body for regulating the amount of calcium and phosphate, which contribute to healthy bones and teeth.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

There are many different forms of Vitamin E and it is common to the wide variety of foods. Vitamin E can protect the body against serious illness such as heart disease and cancer. It can also help to protect eye health in older people.

Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone)

Vitamin K is required to for the modification of proteins in food and also blood clotting and probably for the development of strong healthy bones. Vitamin K may also help protect the body from contracting serious illness like heart disease and cancer. Moreover, Vitamin K can help in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. 

Minerals and Water

Minerals are naturally occurring elements and are therefore found on the periodic table. The body uses minerals for some important functions, some are necessary for a healthy body and mind.

List of nutrients:

Boron (B) 

Can be found in many fruits, vegetables and nuts. Boron is thought to be useful in bone development and maintenance, muscle development and strength and can help alleviate problems associated with Vitamin D deficiency. Boron may also help with the prevention of arthritis.  

Calcium (Ca)

Calcium is found in milk and other dairy products including cheese and yogurt. Lower fat dairy products contain more calcium as less of their volume is taken up with fat. Nuts, seeds, oily fish and dark green vegetables can also be rich sources of calcium.

Calcium is required for the production and upkeep of bones and teeth. Calcium also plays key roles in the nerve signalling, muscle contraction as well as controlling levels of some hormones.

Too much calcium can lead to serious problems like stroke and heart attack whereas too little can cause muscle cramps, numbness in the extremities and abnormal heartbeats.

Chromium (Cr)

Chromium helps the body breakdown fat, carbohydrates and some hormones like insulin. chromium is also fundamental in the body's production in some fatty acids and cholesterol (Essential for the brain). Needed in small quantities and and common in many foods. We get most of our chromium from meat, fish, whole grains, fruit and vegetables.

Zinc (Zn)

Zinc is an essential mineral and of paramount importance to health. Zinc deficiency can cause huge problems in developing nations and it is estimated that zinc deficiency affects around two billion people.