Nutrients cumulatively refer to vitamins and minerals that appear in edible foods; aside fuel, they are the reason why we eat. Not only are they necessary for health, but they are also necessary for survival -- deficiencies in a single vitamin or mineral can cause serious health complications, often leading to death. This does not mean that everyone requires the same nutrition. A simplified explanation of nutrition is a regimen of foods that provide the proper balance of vitamins, minerals and energy for your body type and lifestyle.
Growth and Development
The entire body either requires or comprises vitamins and minerals. Accordingly, cell production requires both. For example, the body stores 99 percent of calcium ingested with foods in bones and teeth, with the other one percent appearing in blood and other tissues. It is necessary for bone density; a deficiency of calcium or potassium will cause osteopenia, which can lead to osteoporosis. Vitamin B-6, or pyridoxine, is essential for red blood cell production. Vitamin A, or retinol, is essential for eye, tooth and bone growth. The body uses folate to produce new cells. Other vitamins and minerals that contribute to cell production or composition include biotin, ascorbic acid, vitamin D, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iodine and fluoride.
Immunity
The body requires vitamins and minerals for immunity, both directly and indirectly. Directly, vitamins like vitamin E and minerals like selenium are antioxidants, which protect the body from harmful cell and chemical interactions. Other vitamins, such as ascorbic acid, and minerals like magnesium, bolster the immune system of the body, indirectly helping it to stave off infections and heal damaged cells. Other vitamins and minerals that either directly or indirectly contribute to immunity include retinol, calcium, phosphorus and zinc.
Metabolism
Given that the body derives nutrients from foods through metabolism, almost all vitamins and minerals play a role in the process. In other words, almost paradoxically, the body requires vitamins and minerals to garner more vitamins and minerals. This could be one of the reasons why a fetus must incubate within the mother, receiving some of her nutrition to prepare it for independent life following birth. Much how they support immunity, nutrients can support digestion either directly, by facilitating the synthesis of other nutrients, or indirectly, by supporting digestion in general. Examples of the prior include vitamin C, which assists with iron absorption; vitamin K, which regulates calcium absorption; and zinc, which contributes to the absorption of vitamin A. Nutrients that benefit digestion in general include chloride, iodine, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-3, biotin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12.
Cofactors
Many nutrients act as cofactors to bodily processes, acting alongside enzymes to facilitate functionality. For example, the nervous system uses vitamin B-1, sodium, potassium and magnesium to help facilitate transmissions between nerve cells. The liver uses B-12 to help break down fatty and amino acids. The body also requires ascorbic acid for collagen synthesis. Other nutrients that act as cofactors include biotin, pyridoxine, folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin E, vitamin K, chloride, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium and molybdenum.
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