18 Essential Nutrients With Their Function

 18 Essential Nutrients With Their Function

Introduction

In this article, you will be able to know about the role and function of some essential nutrients necessary to keep you healthy and active. The article lucidly discusses some important nutrients with their function and the brands available as health supplements.

Nutrients

·       Nutrients refer to chemical compounds found in food that are used by the body to function properly and maintain health.

·       Nutrients include proteins, vitamins, fat, carbohydrates, and minerals. 

Some essential nutrients with their roles  and function to keep you healthy are:

Free radicals

·       Free radicals refer to molecules produced when your body breaks down food or when you’re exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation.

·       Free radicals play a role in heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants

·       Antioxidant refers to a substance that protects cells from the damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules made by the process of oxidation during normal metabolism).

·       Antioxidants include vitamin C and E, selenium, and carotenoids (beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin).

Role of Antioxidants

·       Antioxidants protect your cells against free radicals.

·       Antioxidants reduce the damage caused by oxidation.

·       Antioxidants help moisturization and brighten the skin, reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, and alleviation of inflammation and rosacea.

·       Antioxidants protect against aging.

Antioxidants health supplement

 

Calcium

·       Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body.

·       Calcium is a mineral necessary for healthy bones and teeth.

·       Calcium prevents osteoporosis.

·       Calcium plays an important role in blood clotting, helping muscles to contract, and regulating normal heart rhythms and nerve functions.

·       Calcium gives structure and hardness to your body.

·       Calcium is heart-healthy-in moderation and helps to keep you slim and trim.

Calcium health supplement

 

Choline

·       Choline is an essential nutrient for humans.

·       Brain and nervous system of your body needs choline to regulate memory, mood, and muscle control.

·       Choline is needed to form the membranes that surround your body’s cells.

Choline health supplement

 

Folate

·       Folate is also known as vitamin B9 and folacin.

·       Folate is manufactured as folic acid, which is converted into folate by the body.

·       Folate is important in red blood cell formation and for healthy cell growth and function.

·       Folate is crucial during early pregnancy to reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spine.

Folate health supplement

 

Iron

·       Iron is a mineral that the body needs for growth and development.

·       Iron is necessary to make hemoglobin, a protein in red cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and myoglobin, a protein that provides oxygen to muscles.

·       Iron helps to preserve general energy and focus, gastrointestinal processes, the immune system, and the regulation of body temperature.

Iron health supplement

 

Magnesium

·       Magnesium helps in supporting muscle and nerve function and energy production.

·       Magnesium reduces the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and keeps the heart rhythm steady.

·       Magnesium helps to reduce depression, and prevent migraine attacks.

Magnesium health supplement

 

Manganese

·       Manganese helps the body form connective tissue, bones, blood clotting factors, and sex hormones.

·       Manganese plays a vital role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption, and blood sugar regulation.

·       Manganese is necessary for normal brain and nerve function.

Manganese health supplement

 

 Omega-3 fatty acids

·       Omega-3 fatty acids are a key family of polysaturated fats.

·       Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent heart disease and stroke, and may help control lupus, eczema, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Omega-3 fatty acids health supplement

 

 Phosphorus

·       Phosphorus helps in the formation of bones and teeth.

·       Phosphorus helps to make protein for the growth, maintenance, and repair of cells and tissues.

Phosphorus health supplement

Protein

·       Proteins are the building blocks of life.

·       Proteins are important to structure, function, and regulation of the body.

·       Protein is present/available in every cell of your body.

·       Protein helps in building and maintaining muscles, bones, cartilage, and skin.

·       Protein is important for maintaining bone health, helping the body heal and repair cells and make new ones.

·       Protein is necessary for healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.

·       Protein boosts metabolism and increases fat burning.

·       Protein helps make antibodies that fight off infections and illness and keep cells healthy.

·       Protein is important for growth and development in children, teens, and pregnant women.

Proteins health supplement

Selenium (Antioxidant)

·       Selenium is a trace mineral (required in small amounts).

·       Selenium has antioxidant properties and may help protect cells from oxidative damage and infection.

·       Selenium helps in maintaining thyroid hormone metabolism and DNA synthesis.

·       Selenium plays an important role in the health of your immune system, cognition, and fertility.

Selenium health supplement

 

Vitamins

·       A vitamin is an organic molecule and an essential micronutrient which a human body needs in small quantities for the proper functioning of its metabolism.

·       Vitamins shore up bones, heal wounds, and bolster your immune system.

·       Vitamins help to convert food into energy, and repair cellular damage.

Vitamin A

·       Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.

·       Vitamin A is important for normal vision, the immune system, and reproduction.

·       Vitamin A helps the heart, lungs, and kidneys work properly.

Vitamin A health supplement

 

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

·       Vitamin B2 is also known as riboflavin.

·       Vitamin B2 is essential to the formation of two major coenzymes, flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide.

·       Vitamin B2 is important for the growth, development, and function of the cells in your body.

·       Vitamin B2 helps turn the food you eat into the energy you need.

Vitamin B2 health supplement

 

Vitamin B12

·       Vitamin B12 is also known as Cobalamin.

·       Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin involved in both fatty acid and amino acid metabolism.

·       Vitamin B12 helps keep your body’s blood and nerve cells healthy.

·       Vitamin B12 helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, a blood condition that makes people tired and weak.

Vitamin B12 health supplement

 

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

·       Vitamin B6 is needed for the proper functioning of sugars, fats, and proteins in the body.

·       Vitamin B6 is necessary for the development of the brain, nerves, and skin.

Vitamin B6 health supplement

 

Vitamin C (Antioxidant)

·       Vitamin C is necessary for the growth and development of body tissues.

·       Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in the repair of tissues, the formation of collagen, and the enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters.

·       Vitamin C is involved in absorption of iron, the proper functioning of the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.

·       Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals.

·       Vitamin C is used to prevent and treat scurvy.

·       Vitamin C is also sold as a dietary supplement.

Vitamin C health supplement

 

Vitamin E (Antioxidant)

·       Vitamin E refers to a group of eight fat soluble compounds that include four tocopherols and four tocotrienols.

·       Vitamin E is important for vision, reproduction, and the health of your blood, brain, and skin.

·       Vitamin E strengthens the body’s natural defense against illness and infection (the immune system).

·       Vitamin E prevents coronary heart disease, prevents inflammation, and lowers the risk of cancer.

Vitamin E health supplement

Zinc

·       Zinc is a trace mineral (the body needs zinc in small amounts).

·       Zinc is necessary for almost 100 enzymes to carry out vital chemical reactions.

·       Zinc plays a vital role in the creation of DNA, growth of cells, building proteins, healing damaged tissue, and supporting a healthy immune system.

·       Zinc helps in wound healing and your sense of taste and smell.

·       Zinc can be used for zinc deficiency, diarrhea, and Wilson disease.

·       Zinc is also used to reduce acne, diabetes, anorexia and burns.

Zinc health supplement

 

Zeaxanthin (Antioxidant)

·       Zeaxanthin is a fat -soluble antioxidant compound of the xanthophyll class of carotenoids.

·       Zeaxanthin is one of only two carotenoids found in the human eye, where it plays a vital role in vision, and eye health, and helps reduce the risk of eye disease.

Zeaxanthin health supplement