A healthy and balance diet made up of seven types of substances: water, carbohydrates, fats and oils (lipids), proteins, minerals, vitamins and nucleic acids. The most important thing is to get these nutrients from essential elements from ready-made food. Major elements such is Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium and Chlorine are those that are needed in large amounts (in milligrams). While the trace elements such as Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum, Boron, Fluorine and Iodine are needed in very small amounts (a few parts per million).
Ready-made foods are made up of plants or animal products. The main organic substances in these foods are Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Lipids. They are known as macronutrients. They supply the elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Phosphorus. The remaining major essential elements are needed in smaller amounts. These, together with trace elements and the vitamins, are usually known as micronutrients. Vitamins are essential organic substances that you need in your diet in trace amounts for healthy functioning of your cells.
Lack of any essential nutrient in your diet can affect your cells. For example, lack of iron in a diet means - red blood cells cannot function properly. This causes anaemia, a deficiency condition. Eventually, this deficiency can affect the whole body and one is said to suffer from a deficiency disease or condition.
Too much nutrients can also harm your body system. For example, if you eat too much carbohydrates and fats, you can become obese. This is due to the formation and accumulation of fat storage cells in the body. A very high protein diet overworks the cells in the liver and kidney, as they have to breakdown the excess nutrients and excrete them. These organs, as a whole, become damaged causing early death.
Post a Comment