The Importance of Vitamins and Nutrients

The main nutrients are Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins, Minerals, and Water.
CARBS

The word "carbohydrate" means "carbon plus water." Plants use sunlight (photosynthesis) to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen.

-When your body needs energy, it looks for carbohydrates first.
-If you are not consuming enough carbohydrates, your body will look for other
sources of energy, such as proteins found in muscle tissue. Proteins, however
are not efficient sources of energy for the body.
-Carbohydrates also protect your muscles and help regulate the amount of sugar
circulating in your blood so that all the cells get the energy they need.
*Simple carbohydrates are sugars that give you instant energy and typically have no *nutritional value. These include sweets, candy, and soda.
*Complex carbohydrates release energy slowly and often contain fiber. These "healthier" forms of carbohydrates include bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, cereals and legumes.

PROTEIN

Protein is an essential nutrient whose name comes from the Greek word "protos," which means "first." To visualize a molecule of protein, think of a very long chain with links. These links represent amino acids, the building blocks of protein, which are essential for cell regulation, growth, and repair.
- The body uses protein to build new cells, maintain tissues and regulate
cell function.
- About half of the protein consumed daily is converted into enzymes, the
specialized "worker proteins" that regulate the speed of biological reactions
in your body and permit it to perform functions such as digesting food and
assembling or dividing molecules to make new cells and chemical substances. To
perform these functions, enzymes often need specific vitamins and minerals.
Food sources: Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, nuts, legumes, and soy
It is possible to consume too much protein!
*As you grow older, new proteins are synthesized less efficiently, and muscle mass (protein tissue) diminishes while fat content stays the same or rises. This is why muscle seems to "turn to fat" in old age.

FATS

Fats are essential for good health. They aid in energy production, cell building, oxygen transport, blood clotting, and the production of extremely active hormone-like substances called prostaglandins.

- Fat insulates your body, cushions vital organs, and can be converted into
energy.
- Fat is used to build new cells and is critical for normal brain development and
nerve function.
- Fat is also needed to carry and help absorb fat-soluble vitamins, such as
vitamins A, D, E, and K, and carotenoids.

*Mono-unsaturated fats, the best fats for the body, are found in olive and canola oils.
*Saturated fats, the worst fats for your body) are found in animal products such as butter, cheese, whole milk, ice
cream, cream, and fatty meats, as well as some vegetable oils - coconut, palm, and
palm kernel oils.
- Saturated fat causes the arteries to clog which in turn can cause strokes, heart attacks and coronary heart disease.
*Polyunsaturated fats, relatively good for the body, are found in safflower, sunflower, corn, fish oil(Omega 3) and soybean oils.

VITAMINS

The body requires vitamins and nutrients on a daily basis but not all of them absorb in the body because they are water-soluble. Vitamins come in two forms, they are fat soluble and water soluble. Fat Soluble Vitamins (A, D, E, K) are stored in the fat tissue and can build up high levels of toxins in the body if they are not utilized. Water Soluble Vitamins, the two vitamins the body cannot store but continually need are B and C vitamins.

Lack of B vitamins will manifest symptoms of fatigue, weakness, depression and loss of hair.

My mother has thyroid problems and her hair is falling out due to lack of circulation to the scalp, so I told her to take 800 mg of folic acid a day and see if she sees and improvement.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps the body build collagen, which is very important to the skin, teeth, bones and blood vessels.
Dry skin and hair, gums that bleed, loss of tooth enamel, anemia and many other symptoms result from the body not having enough vitamin C.

WATER

Your body is made up of mostly of water. Approximately 85% of your brain, 80% of your blood and 70% of your muscle is water.
Water helps remove the dangerous toxins that your body takes in from the air you breathe, the food you eat and the chemicals used in the various products you use on your skin and hair :o !
-Water carries oxygen and nutrients into all your cells and also helps
regulate your body temperature.
*You need water to keep your metabolism working properly.
You know you need water when:
your face is flushed
you are extremely thirsty, more than normal or unable to drink
skin is dry
you cannot pass urine or reduced amounts/ urine is dark yellow
cramping in the arms and legs
sleepy or irritable
headaches
you have a dry mouth, dry tongue; with thick saliva