What are Nutrients?

6th Grade

Nutrients: substances in foods that provide energy and materials for cell development, growth, and repair

• 6 Kinds: • Proteins• Carbohydrates• Fats• Vitamins• Minerals• Water

Vitamins: For what are they used?

• Growth of your body and new cells

• Regulating your body’s functions (keeping 98.6*)

• Preventing disease

Does any one food have all of the vitamins that you need?

• No!

• However Kale, Spinach, and Broccoli have been consistently ranking in the top ten best foods for you they have MANY of the essential vitamins that you need

Vitamins are classified into two groups:

• Water-soluble: dissolve easily in water and are NOT stored by your body so you need to replace them in your body every day

• Fat-soluble: dissolve only in fat, and your body stores these

Water-Soluble Vitamins Replace these every day!

• All form of Vitamin B (Thiamin-Vitamin B1, Riboflavin-Vitamin B2, Niacin-Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Folate-Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12)

• Vitamin C

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

• Vitamin A • Vitamin D• Vitamin E • Vitamin K

Minerals: inorganic nutrients that lack carbohydrates and regulate chemical reactions in your body

How many minerals does your body use?

• 14

• Minerals: build cells, control chemical reactions in cells, send nerve impulses through your body, help muscles contract, carry oxygen to body cells, keeps the heart beating

Your body uses the largest quantity of which two minerals?

• Calcium

• Phosphorus

Differences between Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins Minerals

1) Organic come from plants or animals

1) Inorganic come from water, soil

2) Vitamins can easily be destroyed by cooking due to heat or chemical agents

3) Vitamins release energy from food, develop red blood cells, help in blood clotting, and maintaining healthy skin, eyes, and hair

2) Minerals are indestructible

3) Minerals help in bone and tooth formation, muscle contraction

Vitamin A –think orange!

• Prevents eye problems • Helps keep a healthy immune system • Helps cells grow • Keeps skin healthy

Vitamin C –think fruit!• Needed to form collagen, a

tissue that holds your cells together

• Good for healthy bones, teeth, gums, and blood vessels

• Helps the body absorb iron, aids in wound healing, and contributes to brain function

• Helps fight sickness!

Vitamin D

• Strengthens bones because it helps the body absorb bone-building calcium

Vitamin E –think CELLS!

• Antioxidant –helpful for protecting cells from being damaged or kills

• Helps cell membranes form • Helps protect the health of red blood cells

All Vitamin B Vitamins (B6, B12, Riboflavin, Niacin, Thiamin)

• Helps with growth

• Helps with a healthy nervous system

Vitamin K –think wound healing!

• Helps your blood clot and helps wounds heal quickly

2 Types of Minerals: Major Minerals and Trace Minerals

Major Minerals: your body needs to consume greater than 100 milligrams per day

Calcium Magnesium Sodium SulfurPotassium PhosphorusChloride

Trace Minerals

• Need to consume greater than 20 milligrams per day (so a very small amount)

• Iron, zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, iodide, manganese, molybdenum, fluoride

Calcium –think strong bones!

Phosphorus: strong bones, muscle contraction

• Seeds (Sunflower, Chia, Sesame, Watermelon, Flaxseeds)

• Pork, Beef, Shellfish, Salmon

Potassium –balance of water in cells, muscle contractions

Sodium –fluid balance in tissues, nerve impulses

Iron –oxygen transport to red blood cells

Iodine –metabolism & thyroid (hormone)