Exploring the Vital Nutrients for Optimal Body Function

Individuals don’t have to memorize or overthink every vitamin, mineral, or macronutrient. Can having a basic understanding of the role different nutrients play in overall health and daily function help make food decisions easier?

Nutrients The Body Needs

Nutrients, in general, are substances that provide nourishment for growth and the maintenance of life. There are six categories of nutrients, all of which are necessary to sustain life.

Categories

• Carbohydrates
• Fats
• Minerals
• Proteins
• Vitamins
• Water

Macronutrients vs. Micronutrients

Categorizing nutrients makes remembering easy and allows for comparison and contrast. Nutrients are grouped by size or how they function in the body. There are two groups: micronutrients and macronutrients, with water usually left alone in a group.

Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats

• They are macronutrients because they are large energy nutrients and provide the fuel the body needs to function.
• Fiber is a carbohydrate the body can’t digest, so it doesn’t provide energy or structure assistance. However, it is necessary for digestive system function. (US National Library of Medicine, 2023)
• Two types are soluble fiber, which dissolves in water, and insoluble fiber, which doesn’t.

Vitamins and Minerals

• They are called micronutrients because they’re smaller.
• They are essential nutrients, but the body only needs little bits.
• Micronutrients are classified by whether they’re fat or water-soluble.

1. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble.
2. B-complex vitamins and C are water-soluble.

Minerals are grouped as major or trace minerals, depending on how much of each is necessary. Nutrients can also be grouped by whether or not they are organic, meaning organic chemistry, not organic farming or food production. Water and minerals are inorganic; the rest are organic because they contain carbon atoms.

Importance

Nutrients are necessary for proper health and development for the following reasons.

Energy Production

Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins provide energy (measured in calories) for the body’s daily and night biochemical reactions (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2024). Fat has more calories than carbohydrates or protein; one gram of fat has nine calories, and carbohydrates or protein have four calories per gram.

Maintain Body Structures

• Fats, proteins, and minerals build and maintain tissues, organs, and other structures, including bones and teeth.
• The body can convert any extra carbohydrates into fat stored in adipose tissue.
• The body can also store carbohydrates as glycogen in the muscles and liver and use them as energy.
• When the tanks are full, the body stores carbohydrates as fat.

Regulate Body Functions

• Nutrients assist in body function regulation.
• All regulate body functions such as sweating, temperature, metabolism, blood pressure, thyroid function, and more.
• When all different functions are balanced, the body is in homeostasis.

Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients are not included in the major classes but are chemical compounds found in plants that can provide potential health benefits. (Gupta C., & Prakash D. 2014) There are various names they go by, such as flavonoids, phytochemicals, flavones, isoflavones, catechins, and anthocyanidins, and commonly include beta-carotene, lycopene, and resveratrol. (The Foundation for Fresh Produce, 2024) Ongoing studies are investigating the role they play in human health. However, because they typically occur in nutritious foods, it can be challenging to know how much of the benefits come from the regular nutrients or the phytonutrients.

Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic

A balanced diet looks different for everyone. Learning about how nutrients maintain body health will help when choosing foods and planning meals. Consuming various products like fruits and vegetables, grains, proteins, healthy fats, and sweets and treats in moderation. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to develop a personalized treatment plan through an integrated approach to treating injuries and chronic pain syndromes, improving flexibility, mobility, and agility programs to relieve pain and help individuals return to optimal function. Our providers use an integrated approach to create personalized care plans for each patient and restore health and function to the body through nutrition and wellness, functional medicine, acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, and sports medicine protocols. If the individual needs other treatment, they will be referred to a clinic or physician best suited for them. Dr. Jimenez has teamed up with top surgeons, clinical specialists, medical researchers, nutritionists, and health coaches to provide the most effective clinical treatments.

Eat Right, Feel Better

References

US National Library of Medicine. (2023). Dietary fiber. Retrieved from medlineplus.gov/dietaryfiber.html

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2024). Essential Nutrients. www.eatright.org/health/essential-nutrients

Gupta, C., & Prakash, D. (2014). Phytonutrients as therapeutic agents. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine, 11(3), 151–169. doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2013-0021

The Foundation for Fresh Produce. (2024). What Are Phytonutrients? fruitsandveggies.org/stories/what-are-phytochemicals/