The Functions And Benefits Of Different Nutrients To Help You Lose Weight And Get Healthy

It’s important to know about some of the functions and benefits of different nutrients to help you lose weight and get healthy.

The following list will give you some key examples from the broad spectrum of identified nutrients that our bodies need in order to be healthy and healthfully lose weight.

Biotin Helps support healthy skin; Helps maintain nerves’ energy supply
Possible indications that more is needed: Depression; Nervousness; Memory problems

Calcium Helps maintains healthy strong bones; Helps support proper functioning of nerves
Possible indications that more is needed: Tingling and numbness of hands and feet; Muscular pain and spasms

Carotenoids Helps protect cells from free radicals; Helps promote eye and lung health; Helps enhance functioning of immune system
Possible indications that more is needed: Low intake of fruits and vegetables; Smoking; Regular alcohol consumption

Choline Helps promote cell membrane function; Assists nerve-muscle communication; Helps prevent homocysteine build-up
Possible indications that more is needed: Fatigue; Insomnia; Fat accumulation in blood; Nerve muscle problems

Cysteine Helps protect cells from free radical damage; Helps detoxify chemicals and heavy metals; Helps breaks down excess lung mucous
Possible indications that more is needed: Frequent colds; COPD

Copper Helps maintain the health of bones and connective tissue; Helps keep the thyroid gland functioning normally
Possible indications that more is needed: Blood vessels that rupture easily; Frequent infections; Loss of hair or skin color

Dietary Fiber Helps support bowel regularity; Helps maintain normal cholesterol and blood sugar levels; Helps provide satiety (quenching of appetite) to help promote weight loss
Possible indications that more is needed: Constipation; Hemorrhoids; High Blood sugar levels; High cholesterol levels

Flavonoids Help prevent excessive inflammation; Help promote blood vessel integrity; Helps protect cells from free radicals; Enhance activity of vitamin C
Possible indications that more is needed: Easy bruising; Excessive swelling after injury; Frequent colds or infections; Frequent nose bleeds; Low intake of fruits and vegetables

Folic Acid Helps support red blood cell production; Helps support heart health; Helps nerves to function properly
Possible indications that more is needed: Depression; Irritability; Mental Fatigue; Confusion; Forgetfulness; Insomnia

Glutamine Helps maintain health of intestinal tract; Helps produce glutathione, a key antioxidant; Helps ensure proper acid-base balance; Helps maintain muscle mass
Possible indications that more is needed: Regular high-intensity exercise; Intestinal dysbiosis; Frequent colds or flu

Iodine Helps ensure proper thyroid function
Possible indications that more is needed: Goiter; Depression; Fatigue

Magnesium Helps prevent free-radical damage; Helps keep bones strong and healthy
Possible indications that more is needed: Insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar levels; Decreased bone mineral density

Manganese Helps prevent free-radical damage; Helps keep bones strong and healthy
Possible indications that more is needed: Insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar levels; Decreased bone mineral density

B3 (Niacin) Helps stabilize blood sugar levels; Helps lower cholesterol levels; Helps body process fat
Possible indications that more is needed: Fatigue, listlessness; Sensations of weakness; Numbness, tingling, and shooting pains in feet

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help prevent excessive inflammation throughout body; Help keep blood from clotting excessively
Possible indications that more is needed: Dry, itchy skin; Brittle hair and nails; Fatigue; Depression; Inability to concentrate; Joint pain

Pantothenic acid Helps transform carbohydrates and fats into energy; Can improve ability to respond to stress; Helps assure adequate production of healthy fats in cells; Helps body process fat
Possible indications that more is needed: Fatigue, listlessness; Sensations of weakness; Numbness, tingling, and shooting pains in feet

Phosphorus Helps form bones and teeth; Vital for energy production
Possible indications that more is needed: Weakness; Weight loss; Irritability; Anxiety; Increased incidence of hypertension

Potassium Lowers risk of high blood pressure; Helps maintain pH balance
Possible indications that more is needed: Muscular weakness; Confusion; Irritability; Fatigue; Heart problems; Chronic diarrhea

Protein Helps maintain healthy skin, hair, and nails; Helps keep immune system functioning properly
Possible indications that more is needed: Weight loss; Muscle wasting; Fatigue and weakness; Frequent infections

Selenium Helps protect cells from free-radical damage; Required for thyroid hormone production
Possible indications that more is needed: Whitening of fingernail beds; Weakness and pain in muscles; Discoloration of hair and skin

Tryptophan Required for proper sleep regulation; Helps regulate appetite
Possible indications that more is needed: Overeating or carbohydrate cravings; Depression; Anxiety; Inability to concentrate

Vitamin A Helps preserve and improve eyesight; Helps fight viral infections, colds, and flu
Possible indications that more is needed: Dry, scaly, rough skin; Frequent infections; Night blindness

B1 (Thiamin) Helps maintain energy supplies; Helps support proper heart function
Possible indications that more is needed: Pins and needles sensations; Feeling of numbness, especially in legs; Muscular tenderness

B2 (Riboflavin) Helps protect cells from oxygen damage; Helps support cellular energy production
Possible indications that more is needed: Sensitivity to light; Tearing, burning, and itching of eyes; Soreness around lips, mouth, and tongue; Cracking of the skin in corners of the mouth

B6 (Pyrodoxine) Helps support nervous system health; Help promote proper breakdown of sugar and starches
Possible indications that more is needed: Fatigue; Anemia; Skin disorders including eczema and dermatitis

Vitamin B12 Helps prevent anemia; Required for nerve cells to develop properly; Helps cells metabolize protein, carbohydrates, and fats
Possible indications that more is needed: Tingling or numbness in feet; Red or sore tongue; Depression; Nervousness; Memory problems

Vitamin C Helps protect cells from free-radical damage; Improves iron absorption from plant foods
Possible indications that more is needed: Frequent colds and infections; Lung-related problems; Poor wound healing

Vitamin D Helps keep bones and teeth strong and healthy; Helps prevent excessive inflammation
Possible indications that more is needed: Thinning bones; Frequent bone fractures/soft bones; Lack of exposure to sunlight; Bone deformities in children

Vitamin E Helps prevent cell damage from free radicals; Helps protect skin from excessive exposure to ultraviolet light
Possible indications that more is needed: Tingling or loss of sensation in arms, hands, legs and feet; Digestive system problems (malabsorption)

Vitamin K Allows blood to clot normally; Helps absorption of calcium and helps prevent osteoporosis
Possible indications that more is needed: Excessive bruising and bleeding; Digestion, liver, and gallbladder problems

Zinc Helps balance blood sugar; Helps support optimal sense of smell and taste
Possible indications that more is needed: Frequent colds and infections; Depression; Impaired sense of taste and smell

Read: Nutrients in Fruits and Animal Food