Our human body requires nutrients for optimal functioning and these are chemical substance obtained from a balanced diet. Nutrients broadly can be classified into six major classes essential for our health; they are carbohydrates, lipids, water, proteins, vitamins and minerals.
Nutrients further categorized as macro and micro nutrients, carbohydrates, lipids and proteins that serve as a source of energy termed as macronutrients. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients crucial for our metabolism and normal functioning of our cellular activities. Water is vital for life and required in large amounts daily for human body.
The primary source of energy for humans is the macronutrient carbohydrates and also play important role in immunity and gut function. Carbohydrates are present in plant-based foods like grains, fruits, vegetables, and milk.
Lipids majorly contribute to the body’s stored energy and essential for cellular structure and function, regulate temperature, and provide protection to body organs. They are found in oils, meat, fats, dairy and plants as triglycerides.
Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients that play an important role in metabolism. Vitamins are organic molecules that can be either water or fat soluble. B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, and C being water-soluble and A, E, D and K are fat-soluble vitamins.
Minerals are inorganic micronutrients, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride are macrominerals, while iron, copper, zinc, selenium, and iodine are microminerals.
Thus, all these nutrients are needed for normal functioning of human body either from our diet or as health supplements.