Food is essential to our bodies. It provides the necessary energy we need to live and move. There is not one food in particular that will fulfill all the requirements our body needs. That being said, we need to intake a variety of different foods and food groups. This is imperative to make sure our body is receiving the proper nutrition.
Nutrients are categorized as carbohydrates, fats and oils, proteins, vitamins and minerals. When carbohydrates are burned they are the source of energy for body heat, breathing, muscular work and more. The building blocks of protein are the amino acids, which are also essential to our body’s functionability. The body alone cannot manufacture the fatty acids and unsaturated fats, which is why they are in turn supplied by our dietary intake.
If the individual is eating a balanced diet the addition of supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, is not as imminent. However, these are needed in minimal amounts to make chemical reactions occur in the body’s tissues.
The powerhouses of the human body are the various muscles that are there for speed and power. There are three types of muscle cells in the human body: skeletal, smooth and cardiac. Each cell in a muscle is made for various functions that are required for certain areas of the body. Muscle tissue work by contracting and shortening, and that produces movement of the internal and external parts of the body.
In the area of fitness the muscles that become more important are the slow twitch and fast twitch muscle fibers. Slow twitch muscles are what are needed for endurance such as: running long distance or cycling. Fast twitch are what are needed for quick movements. (Sprinting, jumping)
Muscles are made up of 75% water, 20% proteins, and approximately 5% carbohydrates, inorganic salts, lipids, and non-protein compounds. However, the composition can be deviate pending the muscle group.