ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
An essential nutrient is a nutrient required for the normal physiological function of the humans that cannot be synthesized in the body, either at all or in sufficient quantities, and thus must be obtained from a dietary source. In the case of humans, there are thirteen vitamins, fifteen minerals, nine amino acids, and two fatty acids, that are considered essential nutrients.
Vitamins and vitamin-like substances
Descriptions of 13 vitamins and 5 vitamin-like substances...DESCRIPTIONS OF 13 VITAMINS AND 5 VITAMIN-LIKE SUBSTANCES
Minerals in nutrition
Descriptions of minerals in nutrition...DESCRIPTIONS OF MINERALS IN NUTRITION
ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS
Essential amino acids are amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the organism at a rate commensurate with its demand, and thus must be supplied in its diet. Of the 21 amino acids common to all life forms, the nine amino acids humans cannot synthesize are phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, and histidine. Six other amino acids are considered conditionally essential in the human diet, meaning their synthesis can be limited under special pathophysiological conditions, such as prematurity in the infant or individuals in severe catabolic distress. These six are arginine, cysteine, glycine, glutamine, proline, and tyrosine. Six amino acids are non-essential in humans, meaning they can be synthesized in sufficient quantities in the body. These six are alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, serine, and selenocysteine.
The main benefits associated with amnion acids in nutrition are greater fat burn, lean muscle growth, prevention of muscle damage, increased endurance, reduced mental fatigue, decreased muscle soreness, and improved muscle recovery.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are fatty acids that humans and other animals must ingest because the body requires them for good health but cannot synthesize them. Only two fatty acids are known to be essential for humans: alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) and linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid). Both fatty acids have authorised claim (EFSA) that »contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels« and »essential fatty acids are needed for normal growth and development of children«. Essential fatty acids play many roles in the body. From them, eiconazoids (prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes) are synthesized via arachidonic acid. These are the starting molecules for the synthesis of endogenous cannabinoids that affect mood, behavior and inflammation. A favorable ratio of omeg-6 / omega-3 fatty acids should be between 5: 1 and 10: 1. It has been found that excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids ingested and an elevated omega-6 / omega-3 fatty acid ratio can accelerate the development of various diseases such as cardiovascular, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cancer. In contrast, increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids and a reduced ratio of omega-6 / omega-3 fatty acids act to inhibit the pathogenesis of these diseases.
