Are micronutrients essential for your health? They’re important because they include vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Vitamins are important for energy production, improving immunity and preventing blood clotting. Minerals play a significant role in fluid balance and bone health.
Are micronutrients essential for your health? iStock-photo credit: Olesya Kotelevska
The difference between macronutrients vs micronutrients is that macronutrients focus on protein, carbs and fats. Our body can’t produce vitamins and minerals, so we must obtain that from food. And that is why micronutrients are considered essential nutrients.
Most Vitamins are water soluble which means they can completely dissolve in water.
If you decide to obtain these water-soluble vitamins from food, then these are the foods associated with that:
• Vitamin B1– Meat, Fish and whole grains
• Vitamin C– Citrus Fruits and Brussel sprouts
• Vitamin B12– Fish and meat
• Vitamin B7– Eggs, spinach, sweet potatoes.
• Vitamin B5– Tuna, avocado, mushrooms.
• Vitamin B6-Potatoes, carrots and Milk
The types of Vitamins that don’t dissolve in water are fat soluble vitamins. And those fat-soluble vitamins are Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin K and Vitamin E.
The basic functions of these Vitamins are:
Vitamin A– is good for vision and the health of your organs.
Vitamin E– This helps with heightening immune function acts as an antioxidant helping to fight off chronic health diseases.
Vitamin K– This is necessary for bone development.
Trace minerals are also needed in the body as they are smaller than macro minerals.
These are some of the basic functions of Trace minerals:
Iron– This helps to provide oxygen throughout the body.
Zinc– It aids in immune function and wound healing.
Copper– This helps with normal brain and nervous system function.
Selenium-Promotes thyroid health and provides defense against oxidative damage.
Some of the more common micronutrient deficiencies are Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Vitamin, Iron, Vitamin B12, Calcium.
Deficiencies
Vitamin D is common for many people to be deficient because of a lack of sunlight exposure. Vitamin B12 because of a lack of meat that vegans and vegetarians avoid. Deficiency in iron is common among vegans and women that are menstruating.
It is important to understand that micronutrient toxicities are less common than deficiencies. The best way to get vitamins and minerals is primarily from food if you can try to get most of it that way.
The Bottom Line is micronutrients are essential for your health, and it is vitamins and minerals. And it is essential because it provides energy production, bone health, immune function, fluid balance, etc.
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References
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