The Essential Every Day Nutrients

The makers and marketers of various fad diet regimen may not realize this when they bombard us with their tall advertising claims of reducing the intake of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, according to expert medical opinion, these are some of the most important and essential every day nutrients which our body needs to function optimally. Before you understand more about the essential every day nutrients, you must remember that all that we ingest is ultimately broken down to simpler forms which the body organs find it easier to assimilate and build energy. Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are the three most important building blocks which our body needs. So we must have the right amounts of these ingredients to remain healthy, active and strong.

-          Carbohydrates:  Because these are the primary sources of energy which our body needs to live and move, 50 to 60% of our daily food intake must contain carbohydrates. Lack of carbohydrates in the diet would make you tired and irritable. Difficulty in concentration, craving for sweets, lethargy usually result from lack of carbohydrates in the diet.  Sources of carbohydrate include:

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

You could easily do without breads, cakes, cookies, and refined flours and pasta.

-          Proteins: This is needed for strong muscles, bones and ligaments. Lack of proteins cause loss of immunity, inability to repair damages to bone or muscles. Your daily intake of food must contain at least 12 to 20% of proteins. Some good sources of protein are:

·         Beans.

·         Soy.

·         Poultry.

·         Seafood.

·         Lean meats.

Fats: 18 to 25% of fats are needed to be included in our daily food plan, if we wish to remain strong and healthy. The brain and our nervous system work optimally with the right amount of fat in our diet. Inadequate amount of fats in our diet adversely affect our immune system, even causing infertility in women. Fats from plants and fish are considered to be the best for the body. They can be found in:
 

• Avocados.
• Olive oil.
• Nuts.
• Salmon.
• Mackerel.

 Though promoters of fad diets claim that these can be done away with for getting a slim and trim body, according to expert medical opinion, these should form part of our daily diet. In fact, long term absence of such essential daily nutrients can cause irreversible damage to our body.