The Nutrients You Must Have Every Day Articles | Nutrition

By: Joe Dively

You hear it all of the time: cut back on those carbs, fats and proteins.  Your body isn’t meant to eat dairy or animals.  While the makers of a variety of fad diets may want you to think that your body doesn’t need these important nutrients, they’re wrong.

Everything we eat breaks down into nutrients our body uses for energy.  The basic building blocks of these nutrients are:  carbohydrates, proteins and fats.  Eaten in the right amounts every day they can help you become stronger, healthier and happier.

Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates are a primary source of the energy we need to think and move.  Our body needs between 50-60% of the foods we eat every day to contain carbohydrates in order to have the energy stores necessary to complete our daily to-do lists and stay healthy.  When you fail to get enough carbohydrates in your diet you may feel sluggish, get headaches, be irritable, find it difficult to sleep and concentrate and even crave sweets.

So, what are the best carbohydrates to eat on a daily basis?  Try a few of these:

·    Beans, peas and lentils.
·    Oatmeal.
·    Whole grain products.
·    Fresh fruits and vegetables.

Stay away from breads, cakes, cookies, and refined flours and pasta.

Proteins:
Protein is a primary component needed to build string muscles, ligaments and bone.  Failing to eat enough protein will result in an inability to fight infection and repair bones and muscles after injury.  The average adult needs 12-20% of protein in their daily caloric intake.  The best sources of protein are:

·    Beans.
·    Soy.
·    Poultry.
·    Seafood.
·    Lean meats.

Fats:
Believe it or not, we all need between 18-25% of our daily caloric intake in fats every day to remain strong and healthy.  Fats give us endurance energy ad well as brain and nervous system function.  Without enough fats in our diets our immune systems don’t work properly.  It can even affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant.   Plant and fish fats are the most beneficial fats for humans.  They can be found in

·    Avocados.
·    Olive oil.
·    Nuts.
·    Salmon.
·    Mackerel.

Although many popular diets stress limiting carbohydrates, fats and proteins in order to lose weight, most nutritional experts agree that the proper amounts of each are necessary to keep your body and mind healthy.  Limiting any of these very necessary nutrients from your daily diet on a regular long-term basis can cause irreparable harm, to your major organs, muscle groups, brain, nervous system and even reproductive systems.  Avoid injury, illness and an overall feeling of unwell ness by eating a well-balanced diet rich is vitamins, minerals and these three essentials: fats, carbohydrates and important proteins.