Without food, your body would slowly devour itself until you no longer had enough sustenance available to sustain your life. This is due to several life-supporting substances that can only be obtained by the body through your diet.
Protein
Protein is found in many foods from nuts to animal-based proteins such as chicken. Protein is vital for a variety of functions in your body. The amino acids in protein provide the essential building blocks for your body, especially regarding building and repairing body tissue. Protein is also important for transporting nutrients in your body, balancing water levels, creating hormones and enzymes and even making your muscles contract so your heart beats and your body can move.
Fats
Fats are also an essential nutrient found in foods that your body could not survive without. Fats help form the membrane of your cells, which allow the many different types of cells in your body to function. Fat is also necessary to allow your body to absorb certain vitamins your body needs to operate, including vitamins A, E, D and K. Fat, like protein, is also used to make hormones in your body, such as prostaglandins for regular body function.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates from the foods you eat are essential for creating energy in the body. Carbohydrates easily break down into glucose, a vital component during cellular respiration to create energy in the mitochondria of each of your cells.
Vitamins and Minerals
Beyond macronutrients such as fat, protein and carbohydrates, the foods you eat provide the vitamins and minerals your body is unable to create for itself. For example, the vitamin A that is found in orange fruits and vegetables such as peppers and oranges is essential for vision and a healthy immune system. Vitamin K in foods like leafy green vegetables is essential for blood clotting, which prevents you from bleeding to death if you get a cut or scrape. Different foods contain different vitamins and minerals that are essential for life, so a range of food types and colors are needed to supply the nutrients needed to survive.
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