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Lecture Notes

So there are three main functions of nutrients in our body, and the first of these is simply to provide energy. And we get that from essential nutrients, and we'll talk about what those are in the next few slides. But essentially, when we talk about calories in food, we're talking about a unit of energy. A calorie is simply a unit of energy. And without these, our bodies don't function, so we need these to allow our body to function properly.

The second function of nutrients in our body are to regulate body processes. So some of these include temperature regulation, and this is done mainly by vitamins, minerals, and the water that is also in our bodies.

And finally, the third nutrient function is to maintain, repair, and grow nearly all the cells in our body. So they're being replaced constantly, and we need nutrients in order to help with this process.