Micronutrients: Vitamins and Minerals Overview

A B vitamin crucial for healthy skin and nerves, and can lower triglycerides at high doses.

Essential for food metabolism, hormone production, and cholesterol synthesis.

Needed for red blood cell formation, brain function, and a plethora of chemical reactions in the body.

Needed for protein and carbohydrate metabolism, hormone and cholesterol production.

Crucial in red blood cell formation, DNA production, and crucial for pregnancy.

Important for metabolism, red blood cell formation, and nervous system health.

Essential minerals required in higher amounts (over 100mg daily) for health.

A nutrient important for brain and nervous system function; shortage can cause liver issues.

Essential minerals needed in small amounts (less than 200mg/day) for various bodily functions.

Approximately 20-30% of calcium ingested is absorbed, crucial for bones and teeth.

Essential for bone and teeth structure (dentin and enamel), cell structure, and carbohydrate metabolism.

Helps in bone/teeth formation, blood pressure/sugar regulation, muscle recovery, nerve function, and protein/DNA synthesis.

Iron is absorbed in the duodenum and upper jejunum.

Goitrogens can interfere with iodine absorption and utilization, potentially causing goiter.

96% of body fluoride found in bones and teeth; crucial for bone and enamel mineralization.

A component in over 300 enzymes; key for glucide/protein metabolism, insulin synthesis, and immune function.

A common nutritional problem in children from developing countries, often due to inadequate intake of animal foods, high phytate content in their diet, lack of overall food intake, or increased fecal losses during diarrhea.

Zinc supplementation combined with oral rehydration therapy can shorten the duration and severity of acute and persistent diarrhea.

A body fat distribution pattern, often called 'apple-shaped,' characterized by a greater accumulation of fat around the abdomen and upper body.

Fat stored just beneath the skin.

Fat stored deep within the abdomen, surrounding internal organs.

Serious mental health conditions characterized by unhealthy eating behaviors and attitudes toward food, body weight, and shape.

An eating disorder involving a severe fear of gaining weight, leading to extreme weight loss.

An eating disorder characterised by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours like purging to prevent weight gain.

Adding essential nutrients to foods that may not naturally contain them to improve their nutritional value.

Restoring nutrients lost during food processing, bringing them back to their original levels.

Salt with added iodine to prevent iodine deficiency and goiter.

Breakfast cereals with added vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, and folic acid.

These methods offer cost-effective, easy ways to improve public health by addressing nutrient deficiencies.

Consuming too much of fortified nutrients can cause health problems.

Fortified foods may not be available to everyone, especially in rural or low-income areas.

Governments can make policies to encourage the fortification of staple foods.

Organizing your meals in advance, including what you'll eat and what groceries you'll need.

The process of cooking food upfront to save time and effort later.

Teaching children appropriate eating habits, like using utensils and asking politely for food.

Strategies for making nutritious food choices appealing and accessible for kids.

Tips and tricks for getting the most value out of your grocery budget.

Sticking to a planned list of groceries helps avoid impulse buys and overspending.

Choosing whole, minimally processed foods is healthier and often more affordable.

Buying fruits and vegetables in season offers the best quality and lower prices.

Information on packaged foods that helps consumers make informed dietary choices.

The specified portion of a food product that the nutritional information applies to, helping standardize comparisons between foods.

The total energy provided by one serving of the product.

Major nutrients like fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, listed on a nutrition label, including information on saturated, trans, and unsaturated types of fat.

Vitamins and minerals essential for various bodily functions, listed with their %DV.

Indicates how much of a nutrient a serving contributes to the daily recommended intake, based on a standard diet.

Mandates the fortification of staple foods like rice, flour, and oil with essential vitamins and minerals to address widespread micronutrient deficiencies.

Establishes a comprehensive food safety regulatory framework to ensure food products are safe for consumption and do not pose a risk to public health.