What are nutrients?
There are six major classes of nutrients. Eating well is a balancing act that combines all six. The nutrients in the food you eat benefit your body in different ways.

Macronutrients provide energy and keep your body working. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. They support your metabolism, among other functions. Water rounds out the list of essential nutrients. It supports nutrition in many ways, like carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells.

Macronutrients
If your body was a building, macronutrients would be the foundation. Macronutrients are your main source of energy. Macronutrients are:

Carbohydrates like sugars, starches and fiber, which are the main source of energy powering your body
Lipids — which are in fats, oils, meat, dairy and other foods — do many things like storing energy and digesting fat
Proteins, which help to build and repair muscle, as well as regulate hormones