Nutrients

Question 1

What is the importance of carbohydrates?

Answer 1

Our primary source of energy. Starch provides the body with a slow and steady release of energy

Question 1

What is the importance of vitamin C?

Answer 1

-Antioxidant
-Important for healing and maintaining body tissue
-Helps to absorb iron from plant sources
-Needed for the formation of collagen
-Helps to resist infection as it build and supports immunity.

Question 2

What is the importance of vitamin A?

Answer 2

-For a healthy immune system
-Helps vision in dim light
-Keeps mucous membranes moist (eg linings of moth, nose, eyelids, trachea and lungs)
-For good health and development in children.

Question 3

Why do we need dietary fibre?

Answer 3

Fibre is important to keep the bowels healthy, as it absorbs lots of water when passing through the bowels, increasing the bulk of waste material and making stool easier to pass.

Question 4

What does a diet high in fibre prevent?

Answer 4

Constipation, haemorrhoids and diverticulitis. It can also prevent type 2 diabetes, some cancers and is believed to lower the risk of some heart diseases.

Question 5

What is the importance of vitamin E?

Answer 5

-An antioxidant which prevents the body from disease
-Strengthens the immune system
-Helps maintain healthy skin and eyes.

Question 6

What is the importance of vitamin K?

Answer 6

-For blood clotting, helps wounds heal

Question 7

What is the importance of vitamin B2 (riboflavin)?

Answer 7

-Releases energy from food
-Helps growth in children
-Keeps the skin, eyes and nervous system healthy.

Question 8

What is the importance of vitamin B3 (niacin/nicotinic acid)?

Answer 8

-Releases energy from food
-Keeps skin and nervous system healthy
-Helps lower levels of fat in blood.

Question 9

What is the importance of calcium?

Answer 9

-To form, strengthen and maintain healthy bones and teeth
-For blood clotting (healthy red blood cells)
-Heart function
-To keep nerves and muscles working properly

Question 10

What is the importance of iron?

Answer 10

-Helps make haemoglobin in red blood cells which carry oxygen to body cells.

Question 11

What is the importance of potassium?

Answer 11

-Helps balance body fluids
-Helps to lower blood pressure
-Needed to keep heart muscles healthy
-Improves bone health and helps to prevent muscle cramps

Question 12

What is the importance of magnesium?

Answer 12

-For bone development
-Helps the nervous system to work properly
-Important for energy release

Question 13

What does a vitamin B2 deficiency cause?

Answer 13

-Can cause swollen tongue, dry skin and sores around the corner of the mouth

Question 14

What does a vitamin B3 deficiency cause?

Answer 14

-In extreme cases, pallagra can occur, it can cause diarrhoea, rough scaly and sore skin, confusion and memory loss.

Question 15

What does a vitamin C deficiency cause?

Answer 15

-In extreme cases, scurvy; bleeding gums, wounds not healing and tiredness
-Iron deficiency anaemia as iron needs vitamin C for the efficient absorption of iron.

Question 16

What does a calcium deficiency cause?

Answer 16

-Rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults
-Osteoporosis, a reduction in bone density and strength which causes bones to become brittle and fracture easily

Question 17

What does an iron deficiency cause?

Answer 17

-Iron deficiency anaemia, being tired and weak.

Question 18

What does a potassium deficiency cause?

Answer 18

-Diarrhoea
-Heart failure.

Question 19

What does a magnesium deficiency cause?

Answer 19

-May cause high blood pressure and heart disease.

Question 20

What is the importance of selenium?

Answer 20

It plays a role in regulating the thyroid gland and has antioxidant properties.

Question 21

What is the importance of zinc?

Answer 21

Essential for healthy skin, bones, teeth, the immune and reproductive systems, liver function and our sense of smell and taste. It is important for brain development in the young.