Type: Substance
Description: A nutrient is a substance that provides essential nourishment for the growth, maintenance, and functioning of an organism. Nutrients are crucial for sustaining life and promoting health, as they play various roles in metabolic processes, energy production, and the maintenance of cellular structure and function. They are typically categorized into macronutrients and micronutrients based on the quantities required by the organism.
Attributes:
- Categories:
- Macronutrients: Needed in large amounts; include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
- Micronutrients: Needed in smaller amounts; include vitamins and minerals.
- Functions:
- Energy Production: Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are primary energy sources.
- Growth and Repair: Proteins and certain minerals contribute to tissue building and repair.
- Metabolic Regulation: Vitamins and minerals are essential for enzymatic functions and other metabolic processes.
- Sources:
- Carbohydrates: Grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes.
- Proteins: Meat, dairy products, legumes, nuts, seeds.
- Fats: Oils, butter, nuts, seeds, fatty fish.
- Vitamins: Fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat.
- Minerals: Vegetables, meat, dairy products, water (depending on the mineral).
Relationships:
- Related Concepts:
- Diet: The sum of food consumed by an organism, which provides nutrients.
- Malnutrition: A condition resulting from an imbalanced intake of nutrients, leading to deficiencies or excesses.
- Supplementation: The use of products to add nutrients to the diet, often to address deficiencies.
- Biological Processes:
- Digestion: The process by which the body breaks down food to release nutrients.
- Absorption: The uptake of nutrients from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.
- Metabolism: The chemical processes that convert nutrients into energy and other necessary substances for cellular functions.
