What do we mean by nutrition? (Part 2)
Macronutrients are Column that appears in issue # 1 "Food Today" defined nutrition as the science of health while food-related. Similarly, a framework for studying the effects of nutrition on the human body. This article reviews the role of the two main groups of nutrients: the macronutrients and micronutrients.
What is a nutrient?
The word "nutrient" is a broad term that describes all the nutrients used by the body to ensure a normal development and maintaining good health. The concept, however, can be divided into two distinct groups of food components: macronutrients and micronutrients.
proteins, lipids (fats) and carbohydrates. Are the main ingredients of the diet and are either the basic material that makes up the human body (as a rule, proteins and fats are 44% and 36% of the dry weight of the body, respectively) or the fuel needed to run (ideally that carbohydrates and fats give us 55% and 30% of our energy).
Water is also a macronutrient, but since we do not see it as "food" (or power or other essential components), is often not considered as such. However, it is the most important element in our body, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Not only represents approximately 60% of the total weight of our body but also the most indispensable. Generally, a loss of only 8% of body water (around 4 liters) is sufficient to cause serious illness. In contrast, in the case of proteins, the second largest element, the range of possible loss is around 15%, a figure that in the most dispensable, fat, up to 90%.
Unlike the macronutrients, micronutrients hardly bring energy, but some factors that are essential for collaborative work metabolism. Micronutrients are primarily vitamins (vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K), minerals (such as calcium and phosphorus) and trace elements (such as iron, zinc, selenium and manganese). While these nutrients are needed in very small quantities, are nevertheless key dietary components. Without them it would place the processes of growth and energy production, like many other normal functions.
Thus, health depends on an optimum supply of both macronutrients and micronutrients. Inadequate or excessive consumption of any of them can cause problems. In today's world, the most important nutritional issues relate primarily to excess in consumption of nutrients or inadequate intake of micronutrients.
Source: EUFIC