Minerals Flashcards
(21 cards)
What are minerals?
Micronutrients needed in small amounts.
What is the function of calcium ?
Laid down in teeth and bones to make them healthy.
Make nerves and muscles work properly.
Enables blood to clot over a wound.
What are main sources of calcium?
Milk
Cheese
Yoghurt
What happens if there is a deficiency of calcium?
Bones and teeth will weaken and bend under the weight of the body.
Muscles and nerve cells wont work properly.
Blood will not clot properly.
What happens if there is excess of calcium?
Could be depositied in the kidneys and stop them working.
What is the function of iron?
Make harmoglobin in red blood cells to carry oxygen.
What are the main sources of iron?
Red meat
Green leafy vegetables
What happens if there is a deficiency of iron?
Iron deficiency anaemia.
Unborn babies need a store of iron in their bodies during the first three months so pregnant women need a good supply.
What happens if there is excess iron?
Can be poisonous to the body.
What is the function of sodium?
Controls the amount of water in the body.
Controls nerves and muscles.
Helps the body use energy.
What are main sources of sodium?
Salt
Foods with salt added.
What happens if there is sodium deficiency?
Muscle cramps
Sickness
Diarrhoea.
What happens if there is excess sodium?
High blood pressure
Strain the heart and kidneys.
What is the function of flouride?
Strengthen bones and the enamel in the teeth.
What are sources of flouride?
Fish and seafood.
Wwhat happens if there is flouride deficiency?
Weak enamel on the teeth so more chance of tooth decay.
What happens if there is excess flouride?
Permenantly discoloured teeth.
What is the function of iodine?
Controls the hormone throxin which control metabolic rate.
What are sources of iodine?
Seafood
Milk and dairy foods
What happens if there is iodine deficiency?
Swelling in the neck goitre.
If a mother is deficient when pregnant the baby may develop cretinism.
What is the function of phosporus?
Mineralises bones and teeth to make them strong.
Essential for energy release.
Makes phospolipids.
