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What Part of the Body Uses Nitrogen?

Nitrogen is a colorless and odorless gas that makes up approximately 80 percent of the air we breath in, according to the Mineral Information Institute. However, in this form, nitrogen cannot be processed and made use of by the body, so instead, the human body extracts nitrogen from certain food we eat.

  1. Food

    • Protein contains nitrogen so foods that are high in protein are likely to be rich in nitrogen. Foods such as fish, chicken, milk, pasta and processed meats such as bacon and sausage are all sources of nitrogen.

    Digestion

    • When the body digests food containing nitrogen, the nitrogen atoms are taken from the molecules of the food and preserved for later use, while the rest is used as a byproduct to produce energy.

    Growth

    • When the nitrogen is removed from the food, it is then used to stimulate cell growth in the body. It is also used to support the immune system, helping it to produce certain antibodies that protect the body from harmful bacteria and infection.

    Nitrogen balance

    • A healthy person should expect to have a nitrogen equilibrium, which means you ingest the right amount of nitrogen through the foods you eat and once it has been put to good use, the correct amount of nitrogen is excreted through feces, urination and perspiration. If you have too much nitrogen in your body, you are said to be nitrogen positive, and if you have too little, you are nitrogen negative. Pregnant women are naturally nitrogen positive because they retain more of the mineral to aid the growth of the fetus as it develops inside the womb.

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