Micronutrients - Vitamins, Minerals and Water
Some nutrients are needed in only tiny amounts but keep the body working. Meet the vitamins and the minerals, learn which vitamins are lost in cooking, and see why water matters so much.
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Small amounts, big jobs
Not every nutrient is needed in large amounts. Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals the body needs in only tiny amounts, plus water. They do not give energy, but without them the body cannot work properly. This module looks at the key vitamins, the minerals and the role of water.
Words to know
Four ideas run through this module. Learn them before you start.
Where are vitamins stored?
Vitamins fall into two groups. The difference decides whether the body can store them and whether cooking destroys them.
Match the vitamin
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin K
- Helps vision in dim light and acts as an antioxidant
- Keeps skin healthy and helps absorb iron; a lack causes scurvy
- Helps absorb calcium for strong bones; a lack causes rickets
- Helps the blood to clot
Lost in the pan
Which vitamin is easily lost when vegetables are boiled in water?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin K
Complete the sentence
Vitamins A, D, E and K are _____ soluble and can be stored in the body. The B group and vitamin _____ are water soluble and are lost in cooking. Vitamin D helps the body absorb _____ for strong bones. The mineral _____ makes haemoglobin to carry oxygen. Vitamins A, C and E act as _____ that protect body cells.
Do not forget water
Water is a micronutrient too, and the body is mostly water. It controls body temperature through sweating, carries nutrients around the body, removes waste in urine and helps digestion. Aim for about six to eight glasses of fluid a day, and drink more in hot weather or when exercising.
Match the mineral
- Calcium
- Iron
- Sodium
- Fluoride
- Builds strong bones and teeth, helped by vitamin D
- Makes haemoglobin in red blood cells to carry oxygen
- Helps control the water balance, but too much raises blood pressure
- Strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent decay
Pick the minerals
Which of these are minerals? Choose all that apply.
- Calcium
- Iron
- Iodine
- Vitamin C
- Starch
True or false
An interactive activity.
Which deficiency?
A person does not get enough iron in their diet. Which condition can this cause?
- Anaemia
- Scurvy
- Rickets
- Night blindness
Keep the vitamin C
An interactive activity.
Which micronutrient?
An interactive activity.
Why water matters
An interactive activity.