Which nutrients are required in our body and what are their functions?

There are 6 basic nutrients that can help support your health, even in small amounts. Essential nutrients are compounds that the body can’t make or can’t make in sufficient quantity. These nutrients must come from food, and they are vital for disease prevention, growth and good health.
While there are many essential nutrients, they can be broken into two categories: macronutrients and micronutrients
Macronutrients are eaten in large amounts and include the primary building blocks of diet – Protein, Carbohydrates, and Fat – which provides body with energy.
Vitamins and Minerals are micronutrients, and small doses go a long way. There are six main groups of essential macronutrients and micronutrients:
Carbohydrates: complex carbohydrates, particularly starch, are found in foods such as pasta, rice, bread, potatoes and cereals. During digestion, starch broken down to the simple sugar glucose, the body’s main source of energy.
Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamins and Minerals are required in minute amounts and are essential for maintaining a strong immune system, build strong muscles and bones and also promote normal growth and development.
Fats : Dairy food, meat, seeds, and nuts all supply fats, as do vegetable oils. Fats is digested into fatty acids, which are used as an energy source and to make cell membranes.
Proteins: Rich source of proteins are fish, meat, poultry and beans. Once digested, proteins supply the body with amino acids. These building blocks are reassembled by cells into different proteins used for construction such as enzymes and a myriad of other roles.
Water : Around 50-70 per cent of our body is made of water. Therefore this amount should be maintained in the body. Water is the only medium through which all essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and other waste in the body are transported.