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.
The body needs 22 amino acids, and all but 8 can be manufactured by the body. These 8 essential amino acids must be obtained from food. Foods containing the 8 amino acids include meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk and cheese. Good quality protein is available from dried peas and beans, peanuts and peanut butter, grains and vegetables. A combination of animal protein with vegetable protein gives the body all the necessary amino acids.