Micro-nutrients
The are are some nutrients which we need in our diet but only in small amounts. These food types are Micro nutrients and consist of vitamins and minerals.
| Vitamin | Food which contain them | Why they are needed |
|---|---|---|
| A | carrots, egg yolk, butter, cod liver oil | Needed to make a pigment in the rod cells of the retina of the eye, so we can see in dim light. |
| B (there are at least 12 different types, but they are usually found together | Whole meal bread, yeast extract, liver, brown rice | Involved in many chemical reactions in the body, e.g. respiration. |
| C | Oranges, lemons, black currants, raw vegetables | Keeps tissues in good repair. Helps make connective tissue. |
| D | Butter, egg yolk, can be made in the skin when in sunlight. | Needed help make strong bones. |
| Mineral | Foods which contain it | Why it is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | Milk, cheese, bread | Needed to make teeth and bones |
| Iron | Liver, egg yolk | Needed to make haemoglobin in red blood cells |
| Phosphorus | Milk | Needed to make bones and teeth |
| Iodine | Table salt, seafood | Needed to make the hormone thyroxine which controls how fast the body works. |
