There is no question that you need all six classes of nutrients to function properly. But is there an advantage to consuming them through food rather than taking them as supplements? Is there more to a healthy diet than just meeting your basic nutrient needs?
The Best Way to Meet Your Nutrient Needs Is with a Well-Balanced Diet
Many foods provide a variety of nutrients. For example, low-fat milk is high in carbohydrates and protein and provides a small amount of fat. Milk is also a good source of the vitamins A, D, and riboflavin, as well as the minerals potassium and calcium, and is approximately 90 percent water by weight. Whereas milk contains a substantial variety of all six classes of nutrients, a single food item doesn’t have to provide all nutrients in order to be good for you. Rather, a well-balanced diet composed of a variety of foods can provide you with all of these important nutrients.
A well-balanced diet will also provide other dietary compounds, such as phytochemicals and fiber, that have been shown to help fight many diseases. At least 900 different phytochemicals have been identified in foods and more are likely to be discovered. Don’t assume that these compounds can be extracted from foods, put in a pill, and still produce the same positive effect on your health. The disease-fighting properties of phytochemicals likely go beyond the compounds themselves, and work with fiber, nutrients, or unknown substances in foods to provide a synergistic, positive effect on your health.
Fiber is the portion of plant foods that isn’t digested in the stomach and small intestine. Some foods, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables that are high in fiber, are also phytochemical powerhouses. Studies have shown that diets rich in these foods fight many diseases.
Also, let’s not forget some of the obvious benefits of getting your nutrients from food. The delicious texture and aroma of foods, coupled with the social interaction of meals, are lost when you pop a pill to meet your nutrient needs. That said, some individuals should take a supplement if food alone can’t meet their needs.
