Vitamins, Minerals & Dietary Supplements Flashcards
Vitamin
- Essential nutrient
- Chemical substances that perform specific functions in the body
- Two Types
What are the two types of vitamins?
- Water Soluble (10)
- Fat Soluble (4)
Water Soluble Vitamins
- Usually can not be stored in the body (If not consumed person can become deficient in weeks to months)
- Only B12 can be stored in the body
- Most can not be consumed in excess except: Niacin, B6, choline, C
Fat Soluble Vitamins
- Stored in the body fat, liver or other parts of the body
- Deficiencies take longer to develop
- Excess can build up in fat
What do Vitamins do?
Many vitamins are coenzymes; Chemical substances that activate specific enzymes that increase the rate of chemical reactions in the body, such as breakdown of energy nutrients, or building body tissues
Antioxidants Vitamins
- Chemical substances that prevent or repair damage to cells caused by exposure to free radicals
- Includes: beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C
- Found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains
Free Radicals
- Chemical substances (usually oxygen or hydrogen) that are missing an electron
- Absence of an electron makes the substance reactive and prone to oxidizing nearby atoms or molecules by stealing an electron from them
- Damages DNA, cell membranes, and other cell components
Getting Enough Vitamins
- Five or more servings a day of a variety of fruits and vegetables can provide adequate amounts of vitamins
- Fortified foods can increase vitamin intake substantially
In nutrition, minerals are… (Good Things to Know About Minerals)
Specific, single atoms that perform particular functions in the body
Most minerals carry a… (Good Things to Know About Minerals)
Charge and are reactive
How many minerals does the body contain? (Good Things to Know About Minerals)
The body contains 40 or more minerals
How many minerals are essential and required in the diet? (Good Things to Know About Minerals)
15 essential minerals are required in the diet
Are minerals retained? (Good Things to Know About Minerals)
- Minerals in foods can be lost in cooking water and meat drippings
- Dried foods retain minerals well
Minerals with opposite charges combine to form… (Mineral Charge)
Stable compounds in tissues (Form bones, teeth, cartilage)
Charged minerals maintain the body’s… (Mineral Charge)
Water balance, and neutralize acids and bases