Nutrients are the substances our bodies need to function properly, and they are classified into two main categories: essential and non-essential nutrients.
Essential nutrients are those that our bodies cannot produce on their own. This means we must obtain them from our diet. These nutrients are crucial for grow, repair, and overall health. They include vitamins, minerals, certain amino acids (from proteins), and fatty acids (from fats). For example, vitamin C is essential because our bodies do not synthesize it, and so we need to get it from fruits and vegetables.
On the other hand, non-essential nutrients are those that our bodies can produce independently. While they can still be beneficial and are often found in food, it’s not critical for us to consume them through our diet since we can create them from other compounds. An example of a non-essential nutrient is cholesterol; our body can produce sufficient amounts, even if we consume none through our food.
In summary, the key difference lies in our bodies’ ability to produce these nutrients. Essential nutrients must come from the food we eat, while non-essential nutrients can be synthesized by our bodies, making them less critical to obtain through our diet.