Nutrients are substances found in food that have specific functions in the body. They are essential for the proper functioning of the human body.
Nutrients can be found in a variety of foods and each has a specific function.
Types of Nutrients
Nutrients can be of the energetic, builder or regulating type.
Energetic nutrients
Energetic nutrients have the function of providing energy to cells. Examples of energy nutrients are carbohydrates and lipids.
Carbohydrates
You carbohydrates they are essential energy sources for the body. They can be found in sugar, honey, bread, rice, corn and pasta.
Lipids
You lipids they are an important reserve of energy, used in times of need. They participate in the construction of membranes and in the production of hormones. In addition, they work as thermal insulators and aid in the absorption of some vitamins.
The lipids can be of vegetable or animal origin. They can be found in butters, bacon, fatty meats and seeds such as peanuts and soy.
building nutrients
The building nutrients or plastics participate in the constitution of enzymes, antibodies and hormones. They are represented by proteins.
Proteins
At proteins have several functions in the body, including: energy supply, structuring the cell, catalyst of biological functions, regulation of metabolic processes, defense and production of hormones.
Proteins can be found in meat, eggs, soy and beans.
regulatory nutrients
Regulating nutrients are necessary for the proper functioning of the body, helping to prevent disease and growth.
Examples of regulatory nutrients are vitamins and minerals.
Vitamins
At vitamins they are organic substances, important in regulating the functions of our body.
Vitamins are not synthesized by the body. They need to be ingested through food.
Vitamins can be found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, meat, milk, eggs and cereals. At exotic fruits they can also be a source of several vitamins that have health benefits.
mineral salts
You mineral salts are inorganic substances essential for the proper functioning of the body. They supply important chemical elements to the body, such as iron, phosphorus, calcium and sulfur.
Like vitamins, mineral salts are not produced by the human body.
Want to know more? Read too:
- Food pyramid
- Foods of mineral origin
- Vegetable foods
- Animal foods
