Final answer:
Essential nutrients are dietary nutrients that the body cannot manufacture in sufficient quantities and must be obtained through food, including certain vitamins like vitamin A and K, and some amino acids. These nutrients are crucial for health and proper bodily function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Essential nutrients are nutrients that must be obtained from the diet because they are vital for disease prevention, growth, and the overall proper functioning of the body's systems. These are nutrients that the body cannot synthesize on its own, or not to an ample amount, hence they must be taken in through food.
Vitamins, such as vitamin A and vitamin K, are examples of essential nutrients. Vitamin A is crucial for maintaining healthy connective tissues, and vision, while Vitamin K is necessary for proper blood clotting. Another set of essential nutrients includes certain amino acids, which the body cannot produce and must be obtained from dietary sources.
Contrary to some beliefs, essential nutrients are not elements that the body can synthesize. Some statements also incorrectly classify carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins as micronutrients, and vitamins and minerals as macronutrients, when in fact the opposite is true. Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are macronutrients because they are required in larger amounts, while vitamins and minerals are micronutrients, needed in smaller quantities.