Nutrition and Wellness

The Key Nutrients Your Body Needs to Thrive

Individuals don’t have to memorize or overthink every vitamin, mineral, or macronutrient. Can having a basic understanding of the role different nutrients play in overall health and daily function help make food decisions easier?

Nutrients The Body Needs

Nutrients, in general, are substances that provide nourishment for growth and the maintenance of life. There are six categories of nutrients, all of which are necessary to sustain life.

Categories

  • Carbohydrates
  • Fats
  • Minerals
  • Proteins
  • Vitamins
  • Water

Macronutrients vs. Micronutrients

Categorizing nutrients makes remembering easy and allows for comparison and contrast. Nutrients are grouped by size or how they function in the body. There are two groups: micronutrients and macronutrients, with water usually left alone in a group.

Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats

  • They are macronutrients because they are large energy nutrients and provide the fuel the body needs to function.
  • Fiber is a carbohydrate the body can’t digest, so it doesn’t provide energy or structure assistance. However, it is necessary for digestive system function. (US National Library of Medicine, 2023)
  • Two types are soluble fiber, which dissolves in water, and insoluble fiber, which doesn’t.

Vitamins and Minerals

  • They are called micronutrients because they’re smaller.
  • They are essential nutrients, but the body only needs little bits.
  • Micronutrients are classified by whether they’re fat or water-soluble.
  1. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble.
  2. B-complex vitamins and C are water-soluble.

Minerals are grouped as major or trace minerals, depending on how much of each is necessary. Nutrients can also be grouped by whether or not they are organic, meaning organic chemistry, not organic farming or food production. Water and minerals are inorganic; the rest are organic because they contain carbon atoms.

Importance

Nutrients are necessary for proper health and development for the following reasons.

Energy Production

Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins provide energy (measured in calories) for the body’s daily and night biochemical reactions (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2024). Fat has more calories than carbohydrates or protein; one gram of fat has nine calories, and carbohydrates or protein have four calories per gram.

Maintain Body Structures

  • Fats, proteins, and minerals build and maintain tissues, organs, and other structures, including bones and teeth.
  • The body can convert any extra carbohydrates into fat stored in adipose tissue.
  • The body can also store carbohydrates as glycogen in the muscles and liver and use them as energy.
  • When the tanks are full, the body stores carbohydrates as fat.

Regulate Body Functions

  • Nutrients assist in body function regulation.
  • All regulate body functions such as sweating, temperature, metabolism, blood pressure, thyroid function, and more.
  • When all different functions are balanced, the body is in homeostasis.

Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients are not included in the major classes but are chemical compounds found in plants that can provide potential health benefits. (Gupta C., & Prakash D. 2014) There are various names they go by, such as flavonoids, phytochemicals, flavones, isoflavones, catechins, and anthocyanidins, and commonly include beta-carotene, lycopene, and resveratrol. (The Foundation for Fresh Produce, 2024) Ongoing studies are investigating the role they play in human health. However, because they typically occur in nutritious foods, it can be challenging to know how much of the benefits come from the regular nutrients or the phytonutrients.

Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic

A balanced diet looks different for everyone. Learning about how nutrients maintain body health will help when choosing foods and planning meals. Consuming various products like fruits and vegetables, grains, proteins, healthy fats, and sweets and treats in moderation. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to develop a personalized treatment plan through an integrated approach to treating injuries and chronic pain syndromes, improving flexibility, mobility, and agility programs to relieve pain and help individuals return to optimal function. Our providers use an integrated approach to create personalized care plans for each patient and restore health and function to the body through nutrition and wellness, functional medicine, acupuncture, Electroacupuncture, and sports medicine protocols. If the individual needs other treatment, they will be referred to a clinic or physician best suited for them. Dr. Jimenez has teamed up with top surgeons, clinical specialists, medical researchers, nutritionists, and health coaches to provide the most effective clinical treatments.


Eat Right, Feel Better


References

US National Library of Medicine. (2023). Dietary fiber. Retrieved from medlineplus.gov/dietaryfiber.html

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2024). Essential Nutrients. www.eatright.org/health/essential-nutrients

Gupta, C., & Prakash, D. (2014). Phytonutrients as therapeutic agents. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine, 11(3), 151–169. doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2013-0021

The Foundation for Fresh Produce. (2024). What Are Phytonutrients? fruitsandveggies.org/stories/what-are-phytochemicals/

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "The Key Nutrients Your Body Needs to Thrive" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Published by

Recent Posts

Managing Primary Insomnia: Lifestyle Tips and Medical Treatments

Could learning to apply healthy sleep hygiene habits help improve sleep and overall health for… Read More

November 20, 2024

Healthy Gut, Healthy You: The Role of Natural Probiotic Foods

Can incorporating natural probiotic foods help improve many people's gut health and restore functionality to… Read More

November 20, 2024

Whiplash Rehabilitation: Managing Delayed Symptoms and Pain

Experiencing a whiplash injury can be disorienting and painful. Can recognizing the signs of more… Read More

November 19, 2024

Discover Natural Remedies to Ease Fibromyalgia

Individuals dealing with fibromyalgia can find natural remedies to reduce the pain-like symptoms and provide… Read More

November 19, 2024

Discover the Best Whipping Cream Substitutes for Your Needs

For individuals who are looking for a whipped cream substitute for a dairy-free alternative, what… Read More

November 18, 2024

Maintain Fitness Levels During Injury Recovery: Tips and Strategies

Can modified workouts and/or having a personal trainer design an alternate fitness routine while in… Read More

November 15, 2024