1. OBJ: STUDENTS WILL ANALYZE THE BENEFIT TO EATING SUFFICIENT AMOUNTS OF CALCIUM, VITAMIN D, IRON AND FOLIC ACID (DURING PREGNANCY) Essential Nutrients

2. What is a supplement? A supplement is often used if a person is lacking essential vitamins and minerals from their diet. For a teenager, a multi-vitamin can be very beneficial to ensure that teens get all the essential vitamins and minerals in their diet.

3. Calcium and Vitamin D Having enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet will help to create strong bones. Foods in the milk group are especially high in calcium and vitamin D. As a person ages, it is important to have strong bones. Osteoporosis is a condition caused by weak bones. People with osteoporosis are prone to broken bones and falls.

4. Folic Acid Folic acid is important to consume during pregnancy. Folic acid is found in foods such as orange juice, spinach, asparagus, collards, sunflower seeds, black- eyed peas, and lentils. It is also found in a woman’s prenatal vitamin. A mother who consumes enough folic acid during her pregnancy will prevent the following conditions:  Birth defects of the baby’s spine (spina bifida)  Cleft lip  Reduces the risk of pregnancy complications, premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage, and poor growth in the womb.

5. Not enough folic acid? Spina Bifida Cleft Lip

6. Iron It is important that a person have enough iron in their diet. Iron-rich foods include spinach, eggs, red meat, dried fruit, whole grain cereals, and beans. Most multivitamins contain 100% of the iron a person needs in a day. Lack of iron in a person’s diet can lead to anemia. People with anemia often feel tired through out the day due to lack of oxygen in their blood.

7. Vitamin C Vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system and prevent sickness. Good sources of Vitamin C include orange juice, oranges, cantaloupe, broccoli, red pepper, and kiwi.