Minerals

Question 1

What are minerals?

Answer 1

Inorganic compounds

Minerals are substances that don’t have carbon and aren’t from living things. They help control chemical reactions in the body.

Humans and animals have minerals. When you eat animal foods, you get the minerals they have. Plants take in minerals from the soil, so when you eat plants or the animals that eat them, you get those minerals. You can also add minerals directly to your food.

Question 2

Types of minerals

Answer 2

Macrominerals: Your body needs these in relatively large quantities

Trace minerals: Your body needs these smaller quantities

Question 3

What are the types of Marcominerals:

Answer 3

Sodium
Potassium
Chloride

Question 4

Marcominerals are Electrolytes
What are Electrolytes?

Answer 4

Macrominerals are important salts in your body called electrolytes.

Electrolytes are substances that help carry electricity in your body. They are needed for things like staying hydrated and keeping your muscles and nerves working properly.

have positive/ negative charge to help body regulate fluid balance

Question 5

types of Trace minerals

Answer 5

Iron: needed to make hemoglobin (protein in red blood cells that carry oxygen)
Copper
Selenium
Zinc
iodine: regulates metabolism if don’t have, develop goiter (nutrient deficiency disease)
Copper
Manganese
Fluoride (healthy teeth)
Selenium
Chromium
Molybdenum

Question 6

what is Bioavailability

Answer 6

Not all the minerals we eat are absorbed by the body

Bioavailability = the degree to which a nutrient can be absorbed, retained, and used by the body

Question 7

what is Absorption

Answer 7

Minerals from animal based foods are more easily absorbed

Minerals from plants have other compounds that interfere with absorption

Question 8

Competing with Each other

Answer 8

If minerals have the same charge, they can compete to be absorbed. This is usually okay with food, but taking too much of a mineral supplement can block your body from absorbing others. Calcium, iron, and zinc can all compete because they have the same charge.

Question 9

Storing Minerals

Answer 9

Your body usually doesn’t keep extra minerals.

If you have enough of a mineral, your body will absorb less from the food you eat.

If you need more, it will absorb more.

Trace minerals can be harmful if you have too much.