Question one: Why is paying attention to nutrients more important than counting calories? Give an example.
If you had 2000 calories worth of processed foods, and 2000 calories worth of healthy food, they both contain the same raw energy. If that's true, then why should you select the healthy option? That’s where nutrients come into play. Nutrients come in six parts, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. The first three in the list are classified as macronutrients. That means we eat them in fairly large quantities, and they contain the energy (calories) we need to get us through our day.
The other three are micronutrients, we consume these in relatively small quantities and they don't contain any calories. …show more content…
They also aid in regulating regular body functions, such as sweating and regulating metabolism. If you were to skip out on nutrients and focus on counting calories, you may not get the nutrients your body needs, which leads to malnutrition.
Malnutrition is described as an imbalance of a person's energy or nutrient intake. To be undernourished indicates micronutrient deficiencies. To be over or underweight suggests an insufficient or excess amount of macronutrients. It is possible to be both overweight and nutrient deficient(an over-consumption of calories, without receiving the vitamins and minerals your body needs for growth). It is also possible to overdose on vitamins and minerals, however, this is difficult to do without the use of supplements. eating a balanced diet should provide you proper vitamin intake.
For instance, you decide to eat a bag of chips (100g- 239 calories), over some coconut (100g- 354 calories). The chips have fewer calories but provide fewer nutrients your body needs, and an excess of fats and carbohydrates. Coconuts, on the other hand, provide more calories but are rich in fibre, and many kinds of vitamins and minerals that your body requires to