Minerals

Question 1

Are minerals micronutrients or macronutrients?

Answer 1

Micronutrients

Question 2

What minerals are needed in larger amounts than others?

Answer 2

Calcium, iron, phosphorus and sodium

Question 3

What are trace elements?

Answer 3

Minerals required in smaller amounts

Question 4

Name 2 trace elements

Answer 4

Fluoride and iodine

Question 5

What are the 4 major functions of minerals?

Answer 5

• body building (bones and teeth)
• control of body processes, especially the nervous system
• they are an essential part of body fluids and cells
• calcium and iron are the most important minerals needed by the body

Question 6

What are the 2 most important minerals needed by the body?

Answer 6

Calcium and iron

Question 7

What is the function of iron?

Answer 7

Production of haemoglobin in red blood cells to carry oxygen in the blood

Question 8

Iron is present in the ____ but stored in the ______

Answer 8

• blood

* liver

Question 10

What problem can iron deficiency cause?

Answer 10

Anaemia

Question 11

What are good source of iron?

Answer 11

• Red meat
• kidneys
• liver
• eggs
• bread
• green vegetables
• dried apricots
• lentils
• cocoa

Question 12

What is the function of calcium in the body? (4 things)

Answer 12

• combines with phosphorus to harden bones and teeth
• blood clotting
• nerve and muscle function
• heart regulation

Question 13

What does calcium combine with and what does this do?

Answer 13

Combines with phosphorus to harden bones and teeth

Question 14

What problems can calcium deficiency lead to?

Answer 14

• stunted growth
• can cause rickets
• osteomalacia

Question 15

What are good sources of calcium?

Answer 15

• dairy products
• fortified white bread
• tinned (oily) fish
• green vegetables
• seeds
• nuts
• lentils

Question 16

What is the function of phosphorus in the body? (3 things)

Answer 16

• Combines with calcium to harden bones and teeth
• Muscle function
• Energy production

Question 17

What problems can phosphorus deficiency cause?

Answer 17

• people are rarely deficient in this mineral
  BUT
• tiredness
• depressing

Question 18

What are good sources of phosphorus?

Answer 18

• dairy products
• nuts
• meat
• fish
• foods rich in calcium

Question 19

What is the function of sodium in the body? (2 things)

Answer 19

• maintains water balance in the body

* nerve transmission

Question 20

What problems can sodium deficiency cause?

Answer 20

Deficiency is highly unlikely

Question 21

What is the function of flouride in the body?

Answer 21

Strengthens teeth against decay

Question 22

What problems can fluoride deficiency cause?

Answer 22

Tooth decay

Question 23

What are good sources of flouride?

Answer 23

• fish
• tea
• drinking water
• toothpaste

Question 24

What is the function of iodine in the body?

Answer 24

Needed to make thyroid hormones- to control the metabolic rate of the body

Question 25

What problems can iodine deficiency cause?

Answer 25

• leads to reduction in amount of thyroxine hormone produced, leading to tiredness and weight gain
• the thyroid gland (goitre) in the neck swells

Question 26

What are good sources of iodine?

Answer 26

* fish * milk * dairy foods

Question 27

How much calcium does an adult body contain?

Answer 27

An adult body contains 1kg of calcium

Question 28

Calcium helps to form _____ and _____

Answer 28

* teeth | * bones

Question 29

What is calcium needed for after injury or surgery?

Answer 29

Blood clotting

Question 30

Calcium helps the _____ and _____ work properly

Answer 30

* muscles | * nerves

Question 31

Vitamin ____ and _____ work together with calcium to help maintain strong teeth and bones

Answer 31

* D | * phosphorus

Question 32

Who needs an increased amount of fibre in their diet?

Answer 32

Pregnant women, those who are breastfeeding and young children

Question 33

At what age do bones stop growing?

Answer 33

18

Question 34

What age do we reach peak bone mass?

Answer 34

30 years when our bones are fully calcified

Question 35

What foods are calcium added to by law?

Answer 35

* Bread and flour | - many foods we buy are fortified with calcium

Question 36

Can our body make calcium?

Answer 36

No, it must be provided by the food we eat

Question 37

Our body will take calcium from the _____ and unless it is replaced it will cause ______

Answer 37

* bones | * osteoporosis

Question 38

What is osteoporosis?

Answer 38

It is a condition of weakening and things of the bones

Question 39

Which groups of people is osteoporosis more common in?

Answer 39

Older adults, especially women

Question 40

What will happen if we don’t have enough calcium in our diet?

Answer 40

* blood will not clot properly after injury * muscles will not work properly * children’s growth will be slowed, as bones will not develop normally

Question 41

If children do not have sufficient calcium they may suffer from ____ which is the softening of the bones. The adult version of this is called _____

Answer 41

* rickets | * osteomalacia

Question 42

Why do we need iron?

Answer 42

We need iron as it forms haemoglobin, which gives blood it’s red colour and carries oxygen around the body to the cells

Question 43

What vitamin is needed in the diet to absorb iron?

Answer 43

Vitamin C

Question 44

What is anaemia caused by?

Answer 44

Lack of iron in the diet | - it is one of the most common nutritional problems worldwide

Question 45

Who is most at risk of anaemia?

Answer 45

Women and children

Question 46

What are symptoms of anaemia?

Answer 46

* tiredness | * lack of energy

Question 47

What are good sources of sodium?

Answer 47

* cheese * bacon * smoked meats * fish * processed foods * table salt