Lesson 7 What are vitamins and minerals?

Your body needs small amounts of vitamins and minerals so it can function properly. What are vitamins and minerals??

Vitamins Vitamins are nutrients that are found naturally in many foods. Most of the vitamins the body needs are found in foods. However, vitamin D and K are made in your body.

Vitamins are important for: -maintaining proper growth -helping to keep bones and teeth strong -helping to keep muscles and nerves healthy -helping to change carbs and fats into energy.

Minerals Minerals are nutrients needed by the body to develop properly. You need large amounts of some minerals, and small amounts of others. Each mineral has a different job.

Some jobs of minerals: -calcium and phosphorus keep bones and teeth strong -sodium keeps muscles and nerves healthy -iodine controls body growth

If your body does not get the right amounts of some nutrients, it can develop a deficiency disease. A deficiency disease is caused by a lack of a vitamin or mineral.

Night blindness is caused by a lack of vitamin A. Your ability to see at night is really bad.

Beriberi is caused by a lack of vitamin B1. You can’t use energy well, get bad skin, nerves, and have digestive problems

Pellagra is from a lack of vitamin B 3. It causes skin disorders.

Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C. It causes loose teeth, which will fall out if not treated, bleeding, and skin problems.

Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D. It causes weak bones and teeth. It also attacks the nerves, hearts

Goiter is caused by a lack of iodine. It causes growths primarily in your neck area.