Micronutrients
Micronutrients are essential to the human body and are required in small quantities. They play an important role in the body’s physical and mental health as well as maintaining a healthy metabolism and growth rate.
Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals which the body requires to keep a healthy balanced function. Vitamins are an essential nutrient and are, in most cases, not made in sufficient amounts by the human body. To ensure our body receives the necessary quantity of vitamins; they need to be consumed as part of our diet, or by supplementation in cases of deficiency.
Each of the 13 Vitamins; vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, folic acid, vitamin K, niacin and pantothenic acid, have a specific role within the human body and are vital to health and wellbeing.
Minerals are consumed daily in a wide variety of foods, and are found in small amounts in the human body. Trace minerals such as copper, iodine, iron, manganese, selenium and zinc, and Macro-minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium are also vital in ensuring a healthy functioning body and mind.
Macronutrients
Macronutrients are also essential in ensuring a healthy functioning body. The human body requires 3 main Macronutrients; lipids, proteins and carbohydrates which are used by the body to produce energy and promote growth. Macronutrients produce energy in the body in the form of calories.
Therefore, it is important to ensure your body receives enough calories per day, in order to be able to function/produce enough energy.
The human body requires carbohydrates in the largest quantities and are extremely important, as the body’s main fuel source. Diets that cut out carbohydrate intake are not always healthy, which is why they result in a feeling of fatigue.
Carbohydrates are easily broken down by the body and are also essential for heart, brain, muscle and kidney function.
The body is made up of thousands of proteins. Proteins are used as a source of energy, once carbohydrates in the body have been exhausted. They are essential in the process of regulating hormones, tissue growth and repair. The body breaks down proteins into amino acids, the building blocks of protein, in which 21 are vital for the human body’s survival. These are consumed in a variety of foods, and are present in both meat and vegetables.
Lipids are fats, which are essential in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins. Lipids are responsible for protecting the body’s organs and are required to provide insulation. They are essential in the production of hormones which the body requires, in balanced quantities. Hormones are vital for bone health, muscle and strength as well as maintaining sexual health. Hormone imbalance can cause a variety of health conditions. Lipids or fats can be found in many foods such as butter, milk, cheese, vegetable oil and in certain meats.
It is vital that the body’s intake of Micro and Macro Nutrients are balanced to remain healthy. Certain weight loss or diet plans are unhealthy due to the reduction of certain macronutrients at extreme levels. Micro and Macro Nutrients cannot be sourced from a narrow variety of food sources, meaning the more varied our diets are, the more balanced our bodies are, ensuring a healthy mind, and a healthy functioning body.
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