New research shows that the nutrients necessary for the human body are no longer the previous six but eight. Friends who are concerned about health may wish to take a look and count the eight nutrients necessary for the human body.
According to the latest research, the eight essential nutrients are protein, fat, carbohydrate (carbohydrate), inorganic salt (mineral), vitamin, dietary fiber, probiotics and water. Eight nutrients are indispensable, and the structure is reasonable.
protein
Protein is a kind of high molecular organic compound composed of amino acids, which contains nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and a small amount of sulfur, phosphorus, iron and other elements.
Protein is divided into complete protein and incomplete protein. Protein with rich essential amino acids and good quality is called complete protein. Protein without essential amino acids or with little content and unable to maintain normal and healthy body is called incomplete protein.
Main functions of protein:
◆ make up the body and repair the tissue;
◆ regulate physiological function;
◆ energy supply;
◆ maintain the acid-base balance of the body and transport oxygen and nutrients.
Fat
Fat is one of the main sources of human energy. Fat is divided into neutral fat and lipoid, which are composed of fatty acids. Fatty acids can be divided into saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids. Some unsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, can not be synthesized in the body and must be supplied by the food intake, also known as essential fatty acids.
Main functions of fat:
◆ heat supply to human body;
◆ dissolved nutrients;
◆ constitute body tissue and bioactive substances.
carbohydrate
Carbohydrate is a kind of carbohydrate, which is an essential element of human body. Because it contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and the proportion of hydrogen and oxygen is the same as that of water, it is called carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are divided into monosaccharide, disaccharide and polysaccharide.
Main functions of carbohydrate:
◆ heat supply;
◆ constitute body tissue;
◆ auxiliary fat oxidation;
◆ help the liver detoxify;
◆ promote growth and development.
mineral
Minerals, also called inorganic salts, refer to all kinds of chemical elements other than ammonia, nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon that make up the human body. More than 60 kinds of trace elements have been found, of which the content is very small. The content is less than 0.01% of body weight, including 14 kinds of essential trace elements, such as iron, iodine, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, selenium, chromium, fluorine, nickel, tin, silicon, vanadium, etc. among them, iron, zinc, selenium are the most scarce in China. Although the amount of minerals in the body is very small, it has a great impact on the nutrition and function of the human body.
Main functions of minerals:
◆ constitute body tissue;
◆ regulate physiological function;
◆ participate in regulating body fluid balance and maintaining acid-base balance of the body;
◆ maintain the excitability of neuromuscular and the permeability of cell membrane;
◆ participate in human metabolism.
vitamin
Vitamin is a kind of low molecular organic compound which is necessary for maintaining body health. It is generally divided into two categories: fat soluble vitamins (a, D, e, K) and water-soluble vitamins (vitamin B1, B2, PP, B6, B12 and vitamin C). The demand of human body is very little, only in milligram or microgram per day.
Main functions of vitamins:
◆ the components of visual pigment are closely related to maintaining normal vision;
◆ maintain epithelial tissue integrity;
◆ promote the growth and development of the body;
◆ regulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism and promote absorption;
◆ osteogenic, maintaining the structure and function of muscle cells;
◆ promote the metabolism of sugar and the activity of nerve tissue;
◆ participate in biological oxidation system in vivo;
◆ promote collagen synthesis, absorption and reserve of iron, and change cholesterol into cholic acid.
dietary fiber
Dietary fiber is a special nutrient. Its essence is polysaccharide which can not be decomposed by human digestive enzymes. There are hundreds of kinds of dietary fiber, including cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, gum and plant viscose, algal polysaccharide, etc.
Main functions of dietary fiber:
◆ convenient for defecation;
◆ good for normal digestion and absorption of food;
◆ reduce serum cholesterol and prevent arteriosclerosis and gallstone formation;
◆ regulate the intake of heat energy and control the body weight;
◆ cation exchange.
probiotics
There are more than 500 kinds of microorganisms in human intestine, up to 100 trillion. Most of them are healthy bacteria probiotics. However, some of the bacteria in the intestine can produce toxic substances, which accumulate in the intestine and directly damage the health of the intestine. According to the theory of traditional medicine, these harmful bacteria in the intestine are not the main cause of disease. However, for some people with poor health or malnutrition, these bacteria may cause serious diseases. Because these toxic substances will be transmitted to the whole body through the blood, resulting in decreased immunity and increased risk of chronic diseases.
The balance of bacteria in the intestine is extremely important. If probiotics and harmful bacteria lose balance, they will cause numerous health problems, such as diarrhea, constipation, gastrointestinal infection, dry skin, acne, dullness and aging, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, cancer, allergies, and even malnutrition.
Main functions of probiotics:
◆ prevention of diarrhea and constipation;
◆ help digest, clean up the stomach and intestines, and eliminate toxins;
◆ manufacture important vitamins and nutrients;
◆ improve the body's resistance.
water
Water is the source of life, is one of the indispensable parts of human body, accounting for 2 / 3 of adult weight. It maintains the normal physiological activities of human body, which is closely related to life. Once the body loses 20% of water, it cannot maintain life.
Main functions of water:
◆ main components of cells and body fluids;
◆ help the body digest, absorb, circulate and excrete;
◆ maintain and regulate body temperature;
◆ lubricant for body cavity, joint and muscle.