Fats, carbohydrates and proteins are macronutrients that provide calories to your body. Each compound is made up of one or more simple nutrients that include fatty acids, sugars and amino acids. Each simple nutrient plays a special role in promoting health and preventing disease. Consult your doctor about your diet and the need for simple carbohydrates and nutrients.
Absorption
The macronutrients from the foods you eat first needs to be digested and broken down into simple nutrients to be absorbed into your body. Fats contain glycerol and three fatty acids which your body breaks down and absorbs. Carbohydrates, including those in fruits and starches, are compounds that contain a complex of two or more sugar molecules which your body digests into single molecules, such as glucose, fructose and galactose, that your your body can then readily absorb. Proteins contain a chain of amino acids that your body breaks down into individual amino acids that are absorbed in your intestines.
Cellular Energy
Simple nutrients fuel the energy of your cells. Your body converts sugars into glucose which the cells throughout your body and brain use for energy. When your carbohydrate stores are used, your body metabolizes fatty acids that are stored in fat cells for energy. Your body can also metabolize amino acids for energy. Certain vitamins, particularly vitamin B-1 and vitamin B-2, play a vital role in assisting enzymes that are part of the cascade of chemical reactions which transform simple macronutrients from food into energy within cells.
Neurotransmitters
The brain requires simple nutrients for nourishment, cellular structure and function and production of neurotransmitters, substances that communicate messages between cells. Large molecules, such as proteins, are unable to cross the blood brain barrier. Yet amino acids, such as tryptophan and tyrosine, can enter the brain from the blood to synthesize serotonin and norepinephrine, respectively. Serotonin and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters associated with mood, appetite control and behavior. Dopamine and GABA are two other neurotransmitters made from amino acids that are involved with managing mood and anxiety, respectively.
Building Blocks
Simple nutrients are the building blocks for numerous types of fats, carbohydrates and proteins in the body. These substances include phospholipids, glycolipids, glycogen, enzymes and lipoproteins. Phospholipids are substances in cell membranes made from fatty acids and phosphate that contain a water-soluble head and a fat-soluble tail that enable it to provide the boundary between the interior and exterior of the cell. Glycolipids are substances made from fat and sugar that are part of the membranes of red blood cells. Glycogen is made up of numerous molecules of glucose and which stores energy for future use. Enzymes are proteins made of amino acids and are vital in accelerating chemical reactions. Lipoproteins integrate fat and protein and transport cholesterol through the blood.
References
- MedlinePlus: Carbohydrates; August 2 2011
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Thiamine; Victoria Drake; June 2007
- Linus Pauling Institute at Orgeon State University; Riboflavin; Victoria Drake; June 2007
- Colorado State University: Water-Soluble Vitamins; 2010
- Neurogistics: What Are Neurotransmitters?; 2010
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