Question

Provide general commentary regarding the six essential nutrients and the primary function for each. How would you use this information with a client who is interested in weight loss? What type of recommendations would you provide to a client to promote safe weight loss?

Answer 1

The essential nutrients are obtained from the food sources, our body requires essential nutrients for growth and development and also for maintaining good health.

The 6 essential nutrients are categorized into two groups depending on their daily requirements as macronutrients and micronutrients. The macronutrients are those that are consumed in larger quantity and micronutrients are those that are required in minute amounts.

Examples for macronutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. examples of micronutrients are vitamins and minerals.

primary functions of six essential nutrients

1. Protein: It is required for building the body. it is essential for all the cells that are present in the body for growth and maintenance of the physiological processes of the body.

2. Fats: It is required for building cells, absorption of minerals and vitamins, muscle movement and blood clotting. it is one of the important energy sources for the body.

3. Carbohydrates: They act as a source of energy, they are required for immune function, digestion process, brain function, etc.

4. Minerals: required for regulating metabolic processes, maintain isotonicity and osmotic pressure, and building bones and teeth.

5. Vitamins: There 13 essential vitamins all are involved in to keep our body's physiological processes maintained in normal state.

6. Water: It is required for eliminating waste products from body; They maintain hydration and lubrication; it Helps transport of other molecules in the body, etc.

Our body's requirement of nutrients is measured in calories. The calorie requirement of our body is based on the weight of the body. By controlling the intake of calories we can gain or reduce the weight of our body.

Measures to take reduce body weight

To reduce the weight of our body we have to reduce high calories containing food. Especially food rich in carbohydrates and fats.

Prefer to hypocaloric food and fiber-rich diet.

Prefer food rich with micronutrients over food containing high calories or carbohydrates and fats.

We have to drink excess water.

Enhance physical activity but avoid heavy workouts in the gym.