Diet and Nutrition AudioHealth Library Topic 1831 Diet and Nutrition Good nutrition is one of the most important parts of staying healthy.
Nutrition provides a person's body with the raw materials necessary to produce energy.
This energy is used to support the most basic body functions, such as the pumping of the heart, breathing, operation of the immune system, and growth. Without proper nutrition, people often get sick, and are not able to participate in the activities of daily life without becoming worn out or injured. People need more than 40 different nutrients to stay healthy. Proteins are called the body's building blocks because they are the foundation of muscle. Proteins are contained in meat, fish, dairy products, and legumes, which are peas and beans.