What's on that plate of food you are going to eat? Your eyes may see carrot, chicken or rice. But what your body get is nutrients.

A nutrient is  a substance that provides energy or building material for your body by the command of Allah.

The three major nutrients that Allah has blessed us with are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Vitamins and minerals are also nutrient. Your body needs all these to stay alive, but it needs some in larger amount than others.

Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates include sugar and starches. Starches are actually composed of chains of small sugars. When the chains are broken energy is realised. Carbohydrates are the main source of your body's energy. Potatoes, rice, wheat, corn and cereal are rich in carbohydrates. So are fruits and vegetables. All these food contain important vitamins and minerals, too.

Candy, jelly and baked goods are high in sugar, but these kinds of food are often to contain ‘empty calories’. They seldom contain other nutrients, and eating too much of them can lead to weight gain.

Proteins:

Next to water, protein is the most plentiful substance in your body. Protein is essential for growth and repair it is the main building material of the body. Muscles, skin, blood and most other parts of the body are made from protein. Most food that comes from animals is rich in proteins. This includes meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and yogurt. Many plant food are also a source of protein. These food include rice, beans, nuts, seeds, wheat and corn.

Fats:

Foods that are rich in fats and oils (which are liquid fats) include butter, nuts and many cheeses. Fats are source of energy. Ounce for ounce burning fats produce more than twice as much energy as you get from carbohydrates or proteins. But fats provide twice as many calories as an equal weight of carbohydrates or proteins. Fats also increase the level of cholesterol in the body. When there is too much cholesterol, the body puts it in the walls of blood vessels. This narrows the blood vessels and can lead to heart disease.

Fats make certain vitamins, such as vitamin D, available for the use in the body. Fats also provide essential fatty acids. These are chemicals your body needs for certain processes, such as proper growth of nervous system. Good sources of essential fatty acids are fish, leafy vegetables, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. 

And in the end and most important if we eat according to the teaching of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) then nothing can harm us or make us ill.