Minerals

-Minerals-

Calcium

· Develops strong bones and teeth

· Works with Vitamin D and phosphorus

· Muscle contraction and blood clotting

· Dairy, bread, cereals, leafy vegetables

· Deficiency effects: stunted growth; rickets in children

Phosphorus

· Release energy from foods

· Develops strong bones/teeth

· Muscle contraction and blood clotting

· Nearly all foods contain phosphorus (milk, cereal products, cheese, meat etc)

· Deficiency effect not known

Iron

· Helps produce haemoglobin – needed for red blood cells

· Required for normal metabolism and removing substances from body

· Immune system

· Meat, liver, kidney, cereal, green leafy vegetable, dried fruit, pulses etc

· Deficiency effects: tiredness; weakness; pale skin; anemia

Fluoride

· Strengthens teeth against decay

· Fish, tea, toothpaste

· Deficiency: tooth decay

Sodium

· Maintains water balance in body

· Table salt, cheese, bacon, fish etc

· Deficiency rare

Iodine

· Used to make thyroid hormones – controls metabolic processes

· Seafood, iodized foods, milk etc

· Deficiency: causes enlargement of thyroid gland à Goitre