Micronutrients- Minerals

Question 1

What is Calcium’s funtion in the body?

Answer 1

Needed in teeth and bones to make them strong
Vit D is needed to help absorption
Needed to make nerves and muscles work correctly
Enables blood to clot

Question 2

What sources aof calcium are there?

Answer 2

Milk, cheese, dairy foods, green leafy vegetables, soya drinks (with added calcium), bread and anything made with fortified flour, fish where you eat the bones (sardines and pilchards)

Question 3

What happens if you havea deficiency of calcium?

Answer 3

Bones will weaken, muscles and nerves affected. Can lead to OSTEOPEROSIS.

Question 4

What happens if you have an excess of calcium?

Answer 4

Calcification of organs (kidneys) leads to stopping them working.

Question 5

What is the function of iron?

Answer 5

Needed to make haemoglobin in red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body
Vit C required for absorption

Question 6

What are the sources of iron?

Answer 6

Liver, red meat, beans (kidney, edamame, chickpeas), nuts, dried fruit, fortified breakfast cereals, soybean flour

Question 7

What happens when you are deficient in iron?

Answer 7

IRON DEFICIENT ANAEMIA- symptoms: tiredness, lack of energy, weakness, pale skin (common in teenage girls).

Question 8

What happens if you have an excess of iron?

Answer 8

Poisonous in the body, if too much consumed (or too many supplements taken).

Question 9

What is the function of sodium in the body?

Answer 9

Controls amount of water in body
Controls muscles and nerves
Helps body to use energy

Question 10

What is sodium more commonly known as?

Answer 10

Sodium chloride is table salt

Question 11

What sources of sodium are there?

Answer 11

Table salt and processed foods, cheese.

Question 12

What happens if you don’t have enough salt in your diet?

Answer 12

muscle cramps caused by too much sweating, or by sickness or diarrhoea.

Question 13

What happens if you have an excess of sodium in your diet?

Answer 13

HYPOTENSION (high blood pressure), which in turn can put a strain on heart and kidneys

Question 14

What is the function of fluoride?

Answer 14

Strengthen bones and enamel in the teeth
Helps prevent tooth decay

Question 15

What source sof fluoride are there?

Answer 15

Tap water, toothpaste

Question 16

What happens if you don’t have enough fluoride in your diet?

Answer 16

Leads to weakened enamel on the teeth and therefore higher chance of tooth decay

Question 17

What happens if there is an excess of fluoride in your diet?

Answer 17

Leads to permanently discoloured teeth in high concentrations.

Question 18

What is the funtion of iodine in the diet?

Answer 18

Helps to produce hormone: THYROXINE
Thyroxine helps to control metabolic rate

Question 19

What are the sources of Iodine?

Answer 19

Fish (cod and tuna), seaweed, prawns, dairy products, iodized salt, shellfish

Question 20

What happens if you are deficient in Iodine?

Answer 20

GOITRE- swelling in the neck. During pregnancy if not enough is taken by the mother, baby may develop permanent brain damage- cretinism.

Question 21

What happens if there is an excess of iodine?

Answer 21

Can lead to inflammation and even cancer in high amounts

Question 22

What id the function of phosophorus in the diet?

Answer 22

Works with calcium to strengthen (mineralise) bones and teeth
Essential for energy release and other chemical reactions
Makes up phospholipids which are found in cell membranes around the body- especially brain and nervous system.

Question 23

What are the sources of phosphorus?

Answer 23

Red meat, dairy foods, fish, poultry, bread,
brown rice, oats

Question 24

What happens if you are defficient or take phosphorus to excess?

Answer 24

No known side effects