Minerals

//Minerals//
1) Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. It can be used in a dietary supplement, or in medicines like antacids. Calcium is necessary for muscle contraction, secretion of hormones and enzymes, blood vessel expansion and contraction, and transmitting impulses through the nervous system. 99% of the body’s calcium is in the bones and teeth, therefore insufficient calcium intake can lead to health problems such as osteoporosis. The recommended daily intake for adults is about 1000 mg of calcium. Many foods have some calcium in them, including dairy products like milk, yogurt, ice cream, and cheeses; fruits like oranges and acai berries; vegetables such as cabbage, kale, broccoli, spinach, tofu, turnips, rhubarb, cowpeas, lotus stems, cauliflowers, and avocados; grains such as certain cereals, tortilla, whole wheat bread, biscuits, and instant oats; meats such as certain canned fishes, beef, ham, chicken, eggs; and herbs and nuts like almonds, almost butter, sesame seeds, cumin, coriander, cloves, mustard seeds, garlic, and ginger.   CALCIUM IN METAL FORM

2.) Iron is an important mineral that can be found in many foods, such as beef, poulty, lamb, pork, beans, chickpeas, leaf vegetables, tofu, and lentils. It is also available in many foods as a supplement such as enriched bread or fortified cereals like Total Raisin Bran. Iron is important in the body because it is able to catalyse free radicals, which are toxic and can cause cancer. It also is the main factor which carries oxygen in the blood to muscles and organs. When iron is in defficiency, oxygen circulation is slowed down, which is very dangerous. LACK OF IT CAUSES ANEMIA

Full of Iron!

3) Zinc is a mineral that is necesarry for the body to function at its best. Zinc helps with your immunes system and also prevents skin problems such as acne or boils and sore throats. It is also necessary for cell division and is required by hair skin and nails to be in top form. People who lack zinc in their diet will have a weaker immune system which will have many further affe cts. Zinc can be found in vitamin suppliments, and most foods that have a lot of protien such as; beef, lamb, pork, crabmeat, turkey, chicken, clams and salmon.

= __Is it a good idea to take a multivitamin once a day?__ =

Yes and no. Vitamins and minerals play a key role in protecting our health and preventing disease, but taking a multivitamin is not always the best way to do this. Multivitamins generally provide a supplement of many essential vitamins and minerals in pill form. People with a balanced diet, however, are most likely getting all of these vitamins already, and by taking the supplement, they could be consuming more than their bodies can handle. Some studies show that multivitamins in smokers, particularly betacarotene, increased the risk of lung cancer. Contrarily, prenatal vitamins in pregnant women greatly reduced birth defects and other complications. Basically, if you are trying to stay healthy or battle a disease, having a good diet and lifestyle habits will be very much more beneficial in the long run. red carrots Where can it be found? What is it? Lycopene is a bright red pigment found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables. For example, red carrots, watermelons and papayas. There is no Lycopene in strawberries or cherries. It also lacks vitamin A. __What does it do?__ Lycopene plays a big part in the photosynthesis of algae and other plants that turn red, yellow, or orange. It is also good for food coloring because it has a strong color and it is nontoxic. Lycopene is not an important nutrient in a human's diet. However, research shows that it is a potential agent that can prevent some types of cancers, specifically prostate cancer.

By: Pauline Donaldson, Rosie Cappetta, Elena Konstantinovic, Alex Vacco