. It also helps regulate the bodys water balance. When proteins are digested they are broken down into simpler sections called amino acids. However, not all proteins will contain all the necessary amino acids. Most meat and dairy products contain all necessary amino acids in their proteins. Proteins are available from both plants and animals. However, Animal proteins are more complete and thus desirable. As mentioned above, there are six nutrients. All vitamins are organic food substances that are found only in living things, plants and animals . It is believed that there are about twenty substances that are active as vitamins in human nutrition . Every vitamin is essential to the proper growth and development of the body. With a few exceptions, the body cannot make vitamins and must be supplied with them. Vitamins contain no energy but are important as enzymes which help speed up nearly all metabolic functions. Also, vitamins are not building components of body tissues, but aid in the construction of these tissues. It is impossible to reliably determine the vitamin requirements of an individual because of differences in age, sex, body size, genetic makeup, and activity. A good source of a recommendation is the RDA. The RDA makes its recommendations based on studies of consumption of the given nutrient. On the recommendation it will usually specify what size diet the recommendation is based on, for example, a two thousand calorie per day diet. It is harmless to ingest excess of most vitamins. However, some vitamins are toxic in large amounts. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin which is only available in two forms. Pre-formed, which is found in animal tissue. The other is carotene, which can be converted into Vitamin A by animals . Carotene is found in easily found in carrots as well as other vegetable...
