Food consumed by humans contain various elements. There are elements that are useful and some are not beneficial to human health. Various substances can be enzymes, nutrition, and toksit (poison).
Nutrients are elements contained in foods that provide health benefits for their manusia.Masing consumed foods have different nutrients. Nutrients contained in these foods vary from one food to another. Such differences may be the type of nutrients contained in the food, and the amount of each nutrient.
One possibility Janis certain nutrients terkadung / contained on the type of food, but it could be possible that nutrients not found in other foodstuffs. For one type of specific nutrients, may be much contained in one type of food, but may not be entirely contained in other foods. In addition a certain amount of nutrients present in large numbers on one type of food, but it could be just present in very small amounts in other foods.
Therefore, in order that the body is not one nutrient deficiency, then the man should not be dependent on one type of food alone, but must consume foods of various types.
Nutrition Substance Group
Nutrients are grouped based on several things, namely by function, based on the amount needed by the body and by source:
1. Based on the function
Each nutrient has a specific function. Each of these nutrients can not stand alone in building and running the body’s metabolic processes. However, these nutrients have different functions.
Nutrients as a source of energy
As a source of energy nutrients beneficial to move the body and metabolic processes in the body. Nutrients are substances belonging to the function is to provide energy are carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Foodstuffs which serves as an energy source such as: rice, corn, taro is a source of carbohydrates; margarine and butter is the fat source; fish, meat, eggs and so is a source of protein.
All three of these nutrients contribute to energy for the body. Nutrients such an energy producer that can be used for movement and physical activity as well as metabolic activity in the body. But the biggest contributor to the energy of the three elements of the nutrient is fat.
Nutrients for growth and maintain body tissues
These nutrients have sebgai function forming cells in human tissue. If these nutrient deficiencies consume the human growth and development will be hampered. Besides these nutrients also serve to replace cells damaged body and maintain organ function.
Nutrients included in this group are proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins. But nutrients have a dominant source in the growth process is protein.
Nutrients as regulators / regulatory processes in the body
Metabolic processes in the body need for a balance settings. For the required number of nutrients to regulate the course of metabolism in the body. The body needs a balance, to the metabolic processes that occur in the body needs to be properly managed.
Nutrients that serves to regulate metabolic processes in the body are minerals, vitamins and protein water. But whose main function is partially regulators minerals and vitamins.
2. Based on the number of
Based on the amount of nutrients needed by the body divided into two, namely:
- Macro nutrients
- Micronutrients
Nutrients can be grouped according to the source. On the basis of their source of nutrients is divided into two, namely vegetable and animal