What Are Nutrients?

mulham jarjnazei Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:21 pm

Many different chemical compounds make up the food that organisms
require to survive. These compounds, including fats, minerals,
carbohydrates, vitamins, and water, are called nutrients. Essential
nutrients empower organisms to live and grow by stimulating and
maintaining body processes.
These compounds have multiple functions within the body. Some
help repair and build body tissue. Others produce heat and energy. The
body may require very much or very little of a single one, depending on
its type.
Macronutrients are nutrients that organisms require in large
amounts. These include the fats, carbohydrates, water, and proteins that
most creatures need for survival. Macronutrients are responsible for
everyday functions of the body, such as building and repairing tissue,
generating energy and heat, regulating hormones, and maintaining normal brain and nerve function.