3 Essential Nutrients and Why Your Body Needs Them

Essential nutrients are compounds that the body can’t make or can’t make in sufficient quantity. According to the World Health Organization, these nutrients must come from food, and they’re vital for disease prevention, growth, and good health.

Here are 3 vital nutrients that your body needs everyday:

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are necessary for a healthy body. It fuels your body, especially your brain and central nervous system (CNS), and protect against disease.

Opt for whole grains, fiber-rich vegetables, fruits, and beans instead of refined grains and products with added sugar

Protein

Protein provides the building blocks of the body, and not just for muscle building. Every cell in our body, from bone to hair to skin, contains protein.

While eggs, fish, and meats are good sources of essential amino acids, you can also get protein from plant sources like nuts, some grains, soy, and beans

Fats

According to Harvard Medical School, fat supports many of your body’s functions such as vitamin and mineral absorption, building cells, muscle movement, and blood clotting

Including healthy fats in your diet can help you to decrease your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, improve your brain function, and balance your blood sugar. They’re also powerful anti-inflammatories, and they may lower your risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and arthritis.

These three nutrients are vital for your body to function normally and stay healthy. Make sure to eat varied diet full of fruits, vegetables, healthy proteins and fats, and whole grains to get enough of these nutrients daily