Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 3 Nutrition 69 o you know that the foods and beverages you eat and drink impact virtually all aspects of your wellness, including how tall you are, how much you weigh, the strength of your muscles, and the com- plexion of your skin? Food contains nutrients, which are chemical substances that give your body what it needs to grow and function properly. There are six general types of nutrients: • carbohydrates • fats • protein • minerals • vitamins • water Some of these nutrients provide the energy your body needs for daily activities such as playing sports, dancing, and riding a bicycle. The body also needs this energy to perform many important internal functions. These functions include maintaining a stable body temperature, providing energy to the brain and nervous system, and building body tissues. Other nutrients enable certain critical bodily functions to occur. For example, the body needs vitamins and minerals to build new cells, strengthen its bones, and carry oxygen to its tissues. Nutrients also regulate crucial physiological processes in your body, such as breathing and digesting (Figure 3.1). In this lesson, you will learn about the three types of nutrients—carbo- hydrates, proteins, and fats—that provide energy to your body. You will also read about three types of nutrients—vitamins, minerals, and water— that serve other functions in your body. D What do you notice about this teen’s appearance that suggests she eats nutritious meals on a regular basis? Figure 3.1 nutrient t a chemical substance that gives your body what it needs to grow and function properly