"A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow, and reproduce."
The three main nutrients required in relatively larger quantities by the human body, namely carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Macronutrients: An essential component of a healthy diet, including carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Carbohydrates: A type of macronutrient that provides energy to the body, found in foods like bread, rice, and pasta.
Simple Carbohydrates: A type of carbohydrate that is quickly digested and can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, found in foods like candy and soda.
Complex Carbohydrates: A type of carbohydrate that takes longer to digest and provides sustained energy, found in foods like whole grains and vegetables.
Proteins: A type of macronutrient that provides building blocks for muscles, tissues, and organs, found in foods like meat, fish, and beans.
Complete Proteins: A type of protein that contains all essential amino acids, found in foods like animal products and soy.
Incomplete Proteins: A type of protein that lacks one or more essential amino acids, found in foods like nuts, seeds, and grains.
Fats: A type of macronutrient that provides energy and helps with absorption of vitamins, found in foods like oils, butter, and avocado.
Saturated Fats: A type of fat that is solid at room temperature and has been linked to heart disease, found in foods like meat, dairy, and fried foods.
Unsaturated Fats: A type of fat that is liquid at room temperature and has been linked to decreased risk of heart disease, found in foods like nuts, seeds, and fish.
Trans Fats: A type of fat that is artificially created and has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, found in processed foods like fried foods and baked goods.
Cholesterol: A type of lipid that is found in animal products and can clog arteries, leading to heart disease.
Glycemic Index: A measure of how quickly carbohydrates in food raise blood sugar levels.
Glycemic Load: A measure of both the quality and quantity of carbohydrates in food.
Dietary Fiber: A type of carbohydrate that cannot be digested by the body and helps with digestion and bowel regularity, found in foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Micronutrients: Essential nutrients that are required in smaller quantities than macronutrients, including vitamins and minerals.
Vitamins: Essential micronutrients that help with various bodily functions, found in foods like fruits, vegetables, and fortified foods.
Minerals: Essential micronutrients that help with various bodily functions, found in foods like dairy, meat, and vegetables.
Water: An essential nutrient that helps with hydration, bodily functions, and regulation of body temperature.
Calorie: A unit of measurement for energy in food.
Carbohydrates: These are our body's primary source of energy. They are found in foods like bread, pasta, rice, cereal, fruits, and vegetables. They come in two forms: Simple and complex. Simple carbs, like sugar and candy, are quickly digested and can cause blood sugar spikes. Complex carbs, like whole grains and vegetables, take longer to digest and provide a sustained source of energy.
Proteins: These are essential for building and repairing tissues in our body, such as muscles, organs, and skin. They are found in foods like meat, poultry, fish, beans, nuts, and dairy products. When we eat protein, our body breaks it down into amino acids, which are used to build new tissues.
Fats: These are necessary for our body to function properly, but they should be eaten in moderation. Fats help us absorb certain vitamins and minerals, protect our organs, and provide a source of energy. They are found in foods like oils, butter, nuts, and fatty meats. There are three types of fat: Saturated, unsaturated, and trans. Saturated and trans fats are considered unhealthy and should be limited, while unsaturated fats are considered healthy and should be consumed in moderation.
"The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi, and protists."
"Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excreted by cells to create non-cellular structures."
"...hair, scales, feathers, or exoskeletons."
"The essential nutrients for animals are the energy sources, some of the amino acids that are combined to create proteins, a subset of fatty acids, vitamins, and certain minerals."
"Plants require more diverse minerals absorbed through roots, plus carbon dioxide and oxygen absorbed through leaves."
"Inorganic nutrients include nutrients such as iron, selenium, and zinc, while organic nutrients include... energy-providing compounds and vitamins."
"A classification used primarily to describe nutrient needs of animals divides nutrients into macronutrients and micronutrients."
"Macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water) are primarily used to generate energy or to incorporate into tissues for growth and repair."
"Micronutrients... have subtle biochemical and physiological roles in cellular processes, like vascular functions or nerve conduction."
"Inadequate amounts of essential nutrients or diseases that interfere with absorption result in a deficiency state that compromises growth, survival, and reproduction."
"Consumer advisories for dietary nutrient intakes... provide macronutrient and micronutrient guides for both lower and upper limits of intake."
"Macronutrients and micronutrients in significant content are required by regulations to be displayed on food product labels."
"Nutrients in larger quantities than the body needs may have harmful effects."
"Edible plants also contain thousands of compounds generally called phytochemicals which have unknown effects on disease or health."
"A diverse class with non-nutrient status called polyphenols."
"Polyphenols remain poorly understood as of 2017."