10.2 Overview of Minerals Flashcards
Unlike vitamins, minerals are _______
inorganic
Minerals can be divided into ______ and _____ minerals. Why are they categorized like this?
Major, minor
Major means it is required in higher amounts in the diet. Minor means it is required in lower amounts.
Minerals contribute to body ______
structure
What is bioavailability?
Availability in food as well as its propensity to be absorbed and available for use within the body
Which are better sources of minerals. Animals or plants?
Animals, especially if large.
What is the mineral content of plants and animals determined by?
Plants: Soil they grow in
Animals: What they eat
What kind of compounds negatively affect plant bioavailability?
Phytates: Impair iron and zinc absorption
Oxalates: Impair iron and calcium absorption
Tannins: Impair iron absorption
Glucosinolates: Impair iron absorption
How can we reduce the effects of phytates?
Soak foods overnight and ferment them
Besides effecting bioavailability, what else does tannin do?
May have disease reducing effects (anti-cancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti inflammatory)
Where are Phytates found?
nuts, legumes, and grains
Where are Oxalates found?
Leafy greens
Where are Tannins found?
Tea, wine
Where are Glucosinolates found?
Cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, etc)
Minerals act as cofactors, meaning what?
They can improve the speed of chemical reactions by activating enzymes.
Sometimes an enzyme requires both ______ and _______ to be effective
coenzyme, cofactor
