According to the USDA, nearly 9 out of 10 teenage girls and 7 out of 10 teenage boys do not receive enough calcium. After water, protein is the largest single constituent of your body and collagen is the most prevalent protein . Protein makes up a major portion of your muscles, bones, connective tissues and most other organs. As you use your muscles, they need to be maintained nutritionally. They must be supplied with adequate amounts of amino acids from the protein in your diet.
Amino acids are also important special nutrients in their own right.
For instance the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine are critical amino acids that are used as neurotransmitters in the brain. Don't Overlook Good Fat Fats are important constituents of your trillions of cellular membranes. Fats are essential to make lipo-protein components of many body secretions and membranes. You should avoid trans-fats, those synthetics that have been totally saturated like margarine and vegetable shortening Vitamins Are Essential Micronutrients Proteins and fats are relatively easy to obtain since they are widely dispersed throughout our foods. Vitamins are complex organic substances found in most foods and are essential for the regulation of metabolism and normal growth and functioning of the body.