Six kinds of nutrients are essential to all body systems. The six classes are water, minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Water is the most important of all the nutrients. An athlete depends on water. Water is necessary for all energy production in the body, temperature control, and elimination of the by-products of respiration.
Water is essential, for without it energy production and endurance are limited.
Minerals and vitamins are other nutrients that can impact sports. Minerals are inorganic substances in food that are contained in various amounts and places throughout the body. At least twenty-one different minerals are necessary for a healthy person. Examples include sodium and fluorine. Sodium is found in very large amounts in areas such as extracellular fluid and perspiration.