Transcript for:
Essential Nutrients for Health Maintenance

Hello again viewers! We all know that the food we eat often  provides us with essential nutrients. In this video, we are going to talk about the six   basic nutrients that you get from  your food and their functions. Let's get started with the nutrient,  which dominates more than 60% of our body. Yes, we are talking about … Water Even if you decide to go on a diet and not  eat any proper meals, you can still survive. Although, you won’t make it without water. For every organ of your body to  work properly, you need water. This liquid helps in your brain function,  and cleanses your body of toxins. The cells in your body stay  hydrated because of water. Apart from that, water also helps  in the process of digestion. If you are someone who doesn't  drink water regularly, you might   find yourself constipated more often than not. If you aren't drinking water properly,  you will end up becoming dehydrated. That is not good for your body as it can  affect its mental and physical performance. Not drinking enough water can also make you feel  very tired and reduce your ability to concentrate. Vitamins The basic function of these nutrients is  to keep away diseases and keep you healthy. Without a healthy dose of Vitamins,   it would be difficult for your  body to fight the microorganisms. While there are about 13 types  of Vitamins that your body needs,   four of them are extremely essential. These are Vitamin A, B6, C and D. These four Vitamins play an  important role in your body. In case you aren't getting enough of these  Vitamins, you might face some problems. For example, Lack of Vitamin B6 can cause  your Blood Pressure to lower uncontrollably. Similarly, lack of other Vitamins may cause  skin problems, vision problems and weakness. On the other hand,   having enough vitamins in your body would mean  that you will have a healthy immune system. The risks of getting lung or prostate cancer would  also reduce with the proper intake of vitamins. Additionally, Vitamins also have high levels   of antioxidant properties  that are good for your body. What's more? It has been found that Vitamins play an  important role in the longevity of a human being. Protein This is the nutrient that gets most of the hype. Go to any nutritionist and they will suggest a lot  of food items for the proper intake of protein. These include meat, eggs and some grains. So, why is protein so popular? Well, protein is the building block of your body. No, we don't mean just muscles. We are talking on a deeper level. Whether it's your bones, muscles, skin,   hair or even the cells of your  body, everything contains protein. In fact, protein is responsible for a staggering  16% of the average human’s body weight. Even your hormones and antibodies  are composed of proteins. In other words, it would be very  difficult to live without this nutrient. This begs the question,  "What are Proteins made of?" Well, the answer is fairly simple, they are  made up of different types of amino acids. Your body needs protein so  that it can function properly. This is why your nutritionists always stress  that you have a lot of protein in your diet,   even if you are looking to lose weight. So the next time they ask you to have  scrambled eggs at breakfast, take that advice. They only want what's good for you. Fats Yes, the nutrient that you want to avoid. Well, maybe you shouldn't  avoid it so much after all. Of course, an excessive amount of fats  may be very dangerous for our body. Too much fat can cause problems for  our blood pressure levels and heart   as well as our digestive and respiratory systems. So why are we saying you shouldn't avoid fats? Well according to a study  at Harvard Medical School,   it was found that fat helps in  the absorption of other nutrients. On top of that, fats play an  important role in cell building. If that wasn't enough to convince you,   the study also showed that fats help  to improve your muscle movement. While you might want to avoid fat  because of the high amount of calories,   it would be better if you ingest  it and burn the calories instead. Additionally, if you can consume  fats at a controlled basis and burn   calories them it will decrease  the risk of heart diseases. More importantly, you will also have  lower chances of getting Type 2 Diabetes. It has also been speculated that controlled  intake of fat improves brain function. Minerals When we talk about minerals for our body, the  first thing that might come to mind is Calcium. Although this isn't the only one. Don’t forget about Iron and Zinc. So, what does the terrific trio of  Calcium, Iron and Zinc do for the body? Calcium is the mineral  responsible for your strong bones. It also helps to transmit nerve signals  from one part of the body to another. Calcium helps to maintain  a healthy blood pressure,   as well as improve muscle  contraction and relaxation. Similarly, Zinc is your go to mineral when  it comes to boosting your healing factor. Zinc improves your metabolism and  strengthens your immune system. It also increases your  resistance against diseases. The last mineral here is Iron,   which is responsible for the  creation of your red blood cells. On top of that, Iron also plays an important  role in the production of hormones in your body. Carbohydrates While the world is moving towards a low-carb diet,   it still is one of the most  important nutrients for our body. Carbohydrates serve as food for your  brain and your central nervous system. For your brain and your nervous system to work  properly, you need a decent amount of carbs. While, we wouldn't ruin your diet  plan by including too many carbs. You should still consume a healthy amount of this  nutrient in order to have a healthy lifestyle. Are you consuming your nutrients? Do you drink enough water every day? Let us know in the comments,  we would love to hear from you.