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Classes of Nutrients: Part 1




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This article is from the Health Articles series.

Classes of Nutrients: Part 1

To be healthy, our bodies need nutrients from five different groups of essential nutrients:

  • Proteins
  • Carbohydrates
  • Fats
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals

These nutrients support growth and maintenance of health, provide energy, and keep body functions running smoothly. Jamba Juice Smoothies, Souprimos and Jamba Breads and Pretzels are excellent sources of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals.

Calories

A kilocalorie or calorie is a unit of heat measurement. One calorie is the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water 1°C.* When we say we're "burning" calories, we're really using up the caloric energy value in the food we've eaten. Carbohydrates yield four calories per gram, proteins yield four calories per gram, and fats yield nine calories per gram. You can see that fat on a weight basis yields more than twice the energy per gram compared to carbohydrates and proteins. But since the body uses carbohydrates for energy, and carbohydrate foods also provide other nutrients, you should try to meet your energy needs with carbohydrates rather than fats.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates fuel the body with energy. Simple carbohydrates (also called simple sugars) such as glucose and fructose from fruits and vegetables fuel red blood cells and the brain.* Simple carbohydrates are connected together to form more complex structures including starches, fiber and other complex carbohydrates. When the body needs extra energy, it can break down complex carbohydrates into simple glucose for more energy. Fruits, vegetables, grains and pasta are high in complex carbohydrates, and health authorities recommend we boost carbohydrate intake to 55-60% of calories consumed.**

Fiber is a complex carbohydrate that comes from plant foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. There are two types of fiber: insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber can not be broken down by our body. It provides bulk in the intestines which helps keep them in top working condition. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, can be broken down by the body. This fiber works like a sponge to absorb toxic substances and prevent them from entering the bloodstream.

National Research Council, Recommended Dietary Allowances (Dietary Reference Intakes), 10th Ed., National Academy Press, Washington D.C., 1992.

Wardlaw Ph.D., Gorden M., Contemporary Nutrition, Updated Sixth Edition, Mosby Year Book, St. Louis, 2006.

 

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