Although everyone needs the same nutrients, they need different amounts. For example, children need more protein to build tissues as they grow. Men and women have varying requirements for different nutrients. For example, women need more iron than men. Large people need more nutrients than small people.
Active people require more nutrients than inactive ones.
People recovering from an accident or illness need more of certain nutrients than healthy people. Also, people who have an immune deficiency from a disease, such as cancer or AIDS, require more nutrients. The body needs more than 40 different nutrients. Although nutrients are found in all foods, foods are better sources than others. Protein breaks down into to simpler compounds called amino acids.