We put many things into our body, but what does the body NEED?
Simply put, the body needs macronutrients and micronutrients.
Macronutrients are the things that we eat in large quantities, such as protein, carbohydrates, and fats. All of these things help to fuel our bodies.
Protein: The body needs protein to build and repair tissues.
Ex: Peanut butter, chicken, turkey, eggs
Carbohydrates: This is the body's main source of fuel. It helps to keep the kidneys, brain, central nervous system, and heart muscles moving.
Ex: Whole wheat, fruits
Fats: Allow the body to absorb vitamins
Ex: Nuts, fish, oils, etc
Micronutrients are things that we consume on a smaller scale, but these small amounts go a long way.
Vitamins
The body needs 13 vitamins to properly function: A, C, D, E, K, and B vitamins - B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate - folic acid), and B12 (cobalamin).
As humans, we sometimes crave a variety of foods, but with this simple breakdown, we have insight into the essential foods we need.