Unlocking the Secret of Essential Nutrients for Growth

What are essential nutrients that the body needs for growth?

Choose one:

a. Proteins

b. Essential Nutrients

c. Carbohydrates

Answer:

Essential Nutrients

Essential nutrients, which the body cannot synthesize and must be obtained from food, include certain vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids. Vitamins facilitate various biochemical reactions, whereas specific amino acids and fatty acids are crucial in building cellular materials.

The organic compounds that are required for growth and must be provided in the diet are termed essential nutrients. These are the nutrients that the body cannot synthesize on its own and must be attained from food sources. Some primary examples include certain vitamins and fatty acids.

Vitamins are essential organic molecules required in small quantities for many enzymatic functions. Some must be procured from food as the body cannot synthesize them. These vitamins aid in various biochemical reactions, including metabolism and the growth of bone, cells, and tissues. Inadequate vitamin intake can lead to significant health problems. Vitamins can be classified as either fat-soluble or water-soluble.

Also essential are certain amino acids and fatty acids such as omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid and omega-6 linoleic acid, which are needed for building cellular materials such as membrane phospholipids. The human body can synthesize only 11 of the 20 required amino acids while the remaining essential amino acids must be obtained from food.