Nutrients are required by all living beings. Essential nutrients are those which can not be produced by the body and so must be consumed. They are, not surprisingly, essential to good health and are broken down into two groups: micronutrients which are required in very small quantities and macronutrients which should be ingested in large quantities. Essentially, micronutrients are what we all know to be vitamins and minerals (See list below).
Vitamins are organic and contain the carbon element while minerals are inorganic. Both help maintain a healthy and efficient body by facilitating the production of enzymes, hormones and other vital substances. It is interesting, but hardly surprising to note that micronutrients are also required by certain plants and crops.
These important nutrients occur in fruits and vegetables as well as in man made supplements. However, it is important to note that refined or processed foods are inferior sources. This is because most micronutrients aren't very stable and various circumstances like sunlight, heat and water can deplete there benefits. So if you want to get the most out of your food follow Popeye's example and "Eat yar spinach" uncooked. The same goes for all your fruits and veggies. Also, bare in mind that the water used to boil vegetables is where most of their vitamins wind up and it can make a healthy and nutritious base for soups and sauces. Lastly, don't forget to eat those potato skins which is where most of the vitamins are concentrated.
When we hear about malnutrition it is most often due to a deficiency in these micronutrients. With malnutrition rampant in many parts of the world many entities are resorting to fortifying foods with micronutrients. These programs can be customized by adding the required micronutrients to the staple foods available in a given region. These programs can have a huge positive impact on societies since malnutrition can be indirectly or directly linked to inhibiting learning, decreasing productivity and causing a significant percentage of maladies. All of which can be prevented with proper nutrition thus avoiding high social and public costs and much personal hardship.
According to the World Health Organization malnutrition is a major cause of death in children under five years old. Iodine deficiencies are said to be the leading cause of mental retardation in the world. Iron deficiency is the leading cause of death during childbirth and can cause a significant decrease in ones energy. Diarrhea and Tuberculosis are also attributed to malnutrition. It goes without saying that sufficient micronutrients are important for a child's growth. They also boost ones immune system and play a large role in maintaining a healthy brain by producing anti-oxidants to combat those nasty free radicals.
So take a look at those nutrition labels and pay attention to the recommended daily allowances (RDA). Get a hold of some quality supplements if need be or better yet treat yourself to some extra servings of fresh fruits and vegetables instead of those greasy chips. Micronutrients may be tiny, but they are enormously important to your health.
For more information on micronutrient malnutrition the following link has a very informative report by the WHO.
http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/guide_ food_fortification_micronutrients.pdf
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Vitamin B3 (Nicotinate)
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenate)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)
Folic Acid
Biotin
Beta-carotene
Vitamin D3
Vitamin E (d-alpha-Tocopherol)
Minerals
Magnesium
Calcium
Potassiu m
Phosphate
Trace Elements
Zinc
Manganese
Copper
Selenium
Chromium
Molybdenu m