Interelationship Of Nutrients

Question 1

Calcium, phosphorus & vitamin D

Answer 1

Carbohydrates give the body energy.
Vitamin B complex is needed to help release the energy from the Carbohydrates.

Question 2

Iron + vitamin C

Answer 2

• Iron in food is in ‘ferric’ state and cannot be absorbed till changed to ‘ferrous’ state.
• If a shortage of iron in diet folic acid takes over the role and helping to make red blood cells and reduce risk of anaemia
• Vitamin C is required to change iron into its more easily absorbed form – ferrous iron – and thus ensures an adequate supply of red blood cells.

Question 3

Calcium + Vit D + phosphorous

Answer 3

• Calcium and Phosphorous make Calcium Phosphate which gives teeth
and bones their hardness.
A process called calcification.
• Absorption of calcium is controlled by Vitamin D. Without Vitamin D we cannot make use of calcium in food.

Question 4

Vitamins A, C & E

Answer 4

Everyday bodies exposed to different chemicals from air, sunlight (uv rays), pollution.
Some of these chemicals pick up oxygen in the body and become ‘free radicals’. These can cause damage to the body cells leading to heart disease, cancer in some people.
Antioxidants help prevent theses chemicals from picking up oxygen. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals making them harmless ( form a defence system) so cannot damage cells in body.
One reason why encouraged to eat plenty fruit and vegetables!

Question 5

Iron, Vitamin C and Folic Acid

Answer 5

• Iron in our food is ferric iron and cannot be absorbed until it is changed to ferrous iron.
• Vitamin C is required to change iron into its more easily absorbed form – ferrous iron – and thus ensures an adequate supply of red blood cells.
• Folic acid also improves the red blood cell count – if iron is lacking then folic acid can supplement the supply.

Question 6

Iron, NSP and Phytic acid

Answer 6

• Too much indigestible NSP in leafy vegetables and fresh fruit can bind with iron and therefore not allow it to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
• Phytic acid found in wholegrain cereal foods prevents the absorption of iron from foods.

Question 7

Water and NSP

Answer 7

• If there is no NSP in the waste matter, no water is absorbed into it and the waste matter is then difficult to get rid of from the body (constipation).
• NSP is important in the diet as it absorbs a lot of water, and binds the other food residues to itself. This ensures that the faeces are soft and bulky and so can pass out of the body easily and quickly.

Question 8

Vitamin B Complex and Carbohydrate

Answer 8

• Vitamin B complex releases energy from carbohydrates, so that it can be used by the body.
• Vitamin B1 helps release energy from glucose.
• Vitamin B2 and vitamin B3 help release energy from food.