Human nutrient requirements include calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. Inadequate levels of certain nutrients can lead to diseases, but severe deficiencies are rare in developed countries. Meeting nutrient requirements is important for optimal health, and deficiencies can lead to various health conditions.
Human nutrient requirements are the amounts of different types of nutrients needed to maintain optimal health. Nutrients include calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. Inadequate levels of certain nutrients can lead to various diseases. In developed countries, nutrient deficiencies severe enough to cause disease are rare.
The most basic of all nutrient requirements is sufficient calories. Calories provide energy for all bodily functions, and it is important to eat enough calories to provide the body with enough energy to meet daily needs. Children in poor countries can develop a condition called marasmus, which leads to stunted growth. The body doesn’t have enough energy to maintain blood sugar levels, so it attacks its own protein in an effort to maintain blood sugar levels.
There are nine essential amino acids that the body requires to synthesize protein. It is important to meet these nutrient requirements because the body cannot produce these amino acids on its own. The essential amino acids are valine, threonine, phenylalanine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, histidine, tryptophan, and lysine. Tryptophin and lysine are particularly difficult to consume in adequate amounts for people following a vegan diet.
Fat is perhaps the easiest nutrient requirement to meet. It’s easy to consume too much fat, but it’s the most concentrated form of energy available. Linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and linolenic acid are essential fatty acids that the body cannot produce on its own and must be consumed.
Minerals are an important part of human nutrient requirements. Some nutrients are required in large amounts, while others are required in such small amounts that it is nearly impossible to become deficient. Mineral-fortified foods prevent many deficiencies. An example of this is iodine-fortified table salt. The widespread use of iodine-fortified table salt has all but eliminated iodine deficiency, which can lead to inflammation of the thyroid gland known as goiter and mental retardation if a sprawling mother is iodine-deficient during pregnancy.
Calcium is a mineral required for almost all functions in the body, including muscle contractions and blood clotting. Iron is the most common mineral deficiency in developed countries and leads to anemia. Women are more likely than men to be iron deficient, due to blood loss from menstruation and increased iron requirements during pregnancy and lactation. However, it is important to be careful when supplementing iron, as iron supplements are the most common cause of accidental poisoning in children in the United States.
Not meeting the nutrient requirements for vitamins can lead to various health conditions, depending on the degree of deficiency and the vitamin. A deficiency of vitamin C can lead to scurvy, a deficiency of vitamin D can lead to rickets in children and softening of the bones in adults. People who don’t get enough vitamin K can experience slow blood clotting. Low levels of vitamin E can cause anemia and eye damage.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
