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What Are Essential Nutrients?

Did you know that the human body is composed of seven main essential ingredients:
Water
Proteins 
Fats
Carbohydrates
Nucleic acids
Vitamins
Minerals
(for future reference we will refer to these substances as nutrients). 

Some nutrients the body can make internally. These are considered non-essential. Other nutrients the body cannot make and therefore they have to be acquired through the diet. These are referred to as essential. Most vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients. Water, certain fats and amino acids are also essential nutrients. The body cannot function properly when a deficiency of an essential nutrient is present, and when any one these nutrients are deficient long enough, the body will respond with symptoms and/or disease. 

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Imagine the following analogy: 
You are having a house built so you hire a contractor to do the work. His crew begins building your new home. They have all the tools and supplies (nutrients) they need except for nails and screws. They still build your home, but use glue and other bonding agents to put the internal framework together. Now imagine that the house is your body and a strong storm is approaching. Because the proper tools(nutrients) were not present, the house will not last as long as it could have. 

It is important to realize that nutrient deficiencies can manifest as generalized symptoms for many years before a disease actually develops. For example, magnesium deficiency may contribute to hypoglycemia for years before adult onset diabetes actually develops. Magnesium deficiency can be the culprit of fatigue for many years before depression is diagnosed. Magnesium deficiency can result in high cholesterol long before atherosclerosis (a form of cardiovascular disease) is identified. That is not to say that a magnesium deficiency is solely responsible for the above conditions, but that a deficiency can be a risk factor or predispose an individual to them. Many nutrient inadequacies or deficiencies are directly and indirectly related to different symptoms and disease states. 

View the chart below:

Nutrient Deficiency	Associated Diseases or Symptoms
Calcium	High blood pressure, depression, osteoporosis
Vitamin E	Anemia, heart disease, dementia
Zinc	Diabetes, arthritis, decreased immunity, fatigue
Vitamin A	Acne, fatigue, poor immune function
Selenium	Heart disease, cancer, muscle pain
Vitamin D	Muscle pain and weakness, depression, cancer
Folic Acid	Neural tube defects, heart disease, cancer
Vitamin B12	Depression, fatigue, anemia, nerve damage
Vitamin B6	Depression, fatigue, anemia, heart disease
Pantothenate	High cholesterol, fatigue, nerve damage
Vitamin B2	Chapped lips, dry eyes, fatigue
Vitamin B1	Congestive heart failure, fatigue, depression
Vitamin C	Cancer, heart disease, stroke, muscle pain
Potassium	Muscle cramps, heart disease
Chromium	Hypoglycemia, diabetes, fatigue
Coenzyme Q10	Muscle pain, fatigue, congestive heart failure
L-Carnitine	Heart Disease, obesity, fatigue
Niacin	Dermatitis, dementia, fatigue
Iron	Anemia, increased risk of infection
Biotin	Dry skin, skin rashes, heart disease, nerve damage

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