Cosmic Recipe for Earthlings The four ingredients below are essential parts of the body’s protein, carbohydrate and fat architecture. (Expressed as percentage of body weight). Oxygen — 65.0% Critical to the conversion of food into energy. Carbon — 18.5% The so-called backbone of the building blocks of the body and a key part of other important compounds, such as testosterone and estrogen. Hydrogen — 9.5% Helps transport nutrients, remove wastes and regulate body temperature. Also plays an important role in energy production. Nitrogen — 3.3% Found in amino acids, the building blocks of proteins; an essential part of the nucleic acids that constitute DNA. Calcium — 1.5% Lends rigidity and strength to bones and teeth; also important for the functioning of nerves and muscles, and for blood clotting. Phosphorus — 1.0% Needed for building and maintaining bones and teeth; also found in the molecule ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which provides energy that drives chemical reactions in cells. Potassium — 0.4% Important for electrical signaling in nerves and maintaining the balance of water in the body. Sulfur — 0.3% Found in cartilage, insulin (the hormone that enables the body to use sugar), breast milk, proteins that play a role in the immune system, and keratin, a substance in skin, hair and nails. Chlorine — 0.2% Needed by nerves to function properly; also helps produce gastric juices. Sodium — 0.2% Plays a critical role in nerves’ electrical signaling; also helps regulate the amount of water in the body. Magnesium — 0.1% Plays an important role in the structure of the skeleton and muscles; also found in molecules that help enzymes use ATP to supply energy for chemical reactions in cells. Iodine (trace amount) Part of an essential hormone produced by the thyroid gland; regulates metabolism. Iron (trace amount) Part of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in red blood cells. Zinc (trace amount) Forms part of some enzymes involved in digestion.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 09:07:32 +0000
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