The components of foods that humans need to consume routinely to survive and flourish are generally called nutrients. Five groups of nutrients are commonly recognized: amino acids and proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. I like to take this a little further and add two more essentials: fiber (which is a type of carbohydrate) and water.
For more detailed information about nutrients and nutrition, take a look at my book, Age Later.
Follow the links [work in progress] to find out more about all of these important food components.
- Amino acids — used to build proteins. The soft tissue parts of your body (skin, brain, muscles, nervous system) are mostly made of proteins.
- Carbohydrates — a source of energy for the body and the brain.
- Fiber — a form of carbohydrate but with more than a simple energy-production role.
- Fats — provide energy and also help the body to absorb vitamins, which are fat-soluble.
- Vitamins (and some vitamin-like substances) — perform a range of duties in our bodies, from assisting in building and maintaining healthy tissue to fighting inflammationand more.
- Minerals — elemental chemicals that work with the body’s organs and nervous system in several ways. Some minerals are part of our body’s structure; our bones and teeth, for example, consist largely of the mineral calcium.
- Water — essential to life on Earth, and your body contains lots of it. We use that water every day, so it’s imperative to replenish every drop.
High-Nutrient Foods
Some foods, including nuts, seeds and berries contain a lot of nutrients in a small-sized skin. Follow the link for a list of some high-nutrient foods.
Dr. Marc Ronert - Age Later 