In this, I explain you about the different minerals in our diet. It also helps us moving in proper diet, leading healthy life. Its a starter to parent how to feed the child. It can be useful for the students pursuing home science. This is a basic introduction on foods. Images may not be described but it has a very good brief content which helps for easy understanding

1. DEPT. OF HOME SCIENCE

2. BASIC NUTRITION
COMPLETED UNDER GUIDANCE OF DR.
JHANSI RANI MADAM

3. WHAT IS NUTRITION?
 Nutrition is the science that interprets the nutrients
and other substances in food in relation to
maintenance, growth, reproduction, health and
disease of an organism. It includes food intake,
absorption, assimilation, biosynthesis, catabolism
and excretion.

4. COMPONENTS IN DAILY NUTRITION
 We consume many nutrients in our daily diet.
 They are classified as-
1.Carbohydrates(Energy giving food)
2.Proteins(Body building blocks)
3.Vitamins Immune
4.Minerals protection
5.Water
6.Roughage(Fiber)

5. MINERALS
 Minerals give immune protection.
 These are of two types-
1.Micro minerals
2.Macro minerals
 Depending of the occurrence in our body, they are
of two types-
1.Essential minerals
2.Non essential minerals

6. MICRO MINERALS
 These are also termed as trace minerals.
 These are found in our body in very minute
quantities and hence named as micro minerals.
 Some micro minerals in our body-
1.Iron
2.Iodine
3.Zinc

7. IRON
 The total content of iron in healthy adult is 4-5 gms.
It is majorly found in haemoglobin of blood.
 It occurs in complex forms as ferrite or haem
compounds.
 Free inorganic form of iron occurs in very rare
forms.

8. FUNCTIONS OF IRON
 Iron is present in haemoglobin, myoglobin,
cytochromes, and oxidative enzymes.
 Haemoglobin-Its present in RBC’s. It helps in gaseous
exchange between heart, lungs and body tissues.
 Myoglobin-An iron complex which stores oxygen in
body tissues.
 Iron containing enzymes carry processes-
 Conversion of β-Carotene to the active form of Vit-A.
 Synthesis of collagen.
 Detoxification of drugs in liver and intestines
 Synthesis of neurotransmitters, dopamine, serotonin.

9. DEFICIENCY DISEASES OF IRON
 Anemia-Lessened levels of Iron. Chronic Anemia
leads to following conditions
 Immunocompetence-Low immunity
 Fingernails become thin and flat leading to
Koilonychia.
 Structural epithelium(mostly sense organs and
mucosa) are affected.
 Glossitis, Angular stomatitis, Atrophy(Chapping) of
papillae on tongue.

10. RECOMMENDED DIET AND SOURCES
 Iron is primarily in found in green leafy vegetables,
cereals, pulses, Vit-C foods(Citrus foods), sprouts.
RECOMMENDED DIET ARY ALLOWANCES
GROUP HAEMOGLOBIN g/100ml
ADULT MAN >13
ADULT WOMAN >12
PREGNANT WOMAN >11
LACTATING WOMAN >12
CHILDREN(6 MONTHS-6
YEARS)
>11
CHILDREN(7-8 YRS) >12

11. IODINE
 Iodine is an important essential micronutrients
required for normal growth of human body.
 The human body contains nearly 15 to 23gms of
Iodine.
 Of this 75% to 80% alone is present in thyroid
gland.

12. FUNCTIONS
 Iodine helps in synthesis of Tri-iodothyroxine (T3)
and Thyroxin (T4).
 Thyroid hormones are responsible for normal
development of brain.
 Thyroxin is essential for reproduction.

13. DEFICIENCY
 In India, endemic Goiter occurs in hilly ranges of
Aravalli, sub-Vindya, Narmada valley and many.
 Simple goiter-
 The enlargement of thyroid gland occurs weighing
200-500 gms.
 Cretinism (stunted growth and low IQ) occurs in
pregnant women.
 Xerophthalmic goiter occurs in aged people.
o Decreased fertility rate.
o Mental retardation.
o Congenital Hypothyroidism.

14. SOURCES AND RECOMMENDED DIET
ALLOWANCES
 Seafood, iodine fortified salt, milk, meat, eggs are
rich sources of iodine.
RECOMMENDED DIET ARY ALLOWANCES
GROUP mg / day
ADULT 100-200
INFANT 40-50
CHILDREN(1-10) 70-120
PREGNANTS +25
LACTATION +50

15. ZINC
 The adult human body contains 1.5 to 2.5 gms of
zinc.
 Zinc is present in all cells, tissues, organs, fluids
and secretions.
 Over 95%of body’s zinc is present within various
metal co-enzymes of cells and cell membranes.

16. FUNCTIONS
 Zinc is essential for normal growth, development,
reproduction and immunity.
 It is an anti-oxidant mineral.
 Zinc is necessary for the synthesis & metabolism of
proteins and nucleic acids.
 It is essential for healing wounds.
 It is constituent of insulin and helps in proper
functioning.

17. DEFICIENCY
 Sickle cell anemia.
 Rheumatoid arthritis.
 In children the following occurs-
 White spots on finger nails
 Skin changes
 Loss of appetite

18. DIETARY SOURCES AND RECOMMENDED
DIETARY ALLOWANCES
 Rich sources-Oyster, meat, eggs, dairy products,
nuts and outer layer of cereals.
 Fair sources-Fruits and vegetables.
 ICMR prescribes15.5mg/day for an adult man.
 The body’s need for zinc is greater during periods
of growth, infancy, adolescence, pregnancy and
lactation.

19. MACRO MINERALS
 The minerals which are present at levels more than
0.05% in human body are called macro nutrients.
 These are required at least 100mg/day.
 Some of the macro minerals are-
1.Calcium
2.Potassium
3.Magnesium

20. CALCIUM
 Calcium is the most abundant mineral element in
our body.
 It takes 1.5-2.0% of body weight.
 Almost 99% of calcium is deposited in bones and
tissues.
 Parathyroid gland regulates the levels of calcium in
the body.
 Calcium content in body is 9-11 mg/100ml.

21. FUNCTIONS
 The most important function of calcium is
ossification of bones.
 It is also essential for proper formation of tooth.
 Calcium helps in catalyzing the clotting of the blood.
 It helps to absorb Vitamin B12 in the ileum.
 It helps in synthesis of acetylcholine, a nerve
receptor.

22. FACTORS AFFECTING CALCIUM ABSORPTION
 Vitamin D content in the body :Vitamin D is
essential for calcium absorption. In deficiency the
calcium absorption is impaired,
 Need for calcium :During pregnancy, lactation and
growth period, the calcium needs are more.
 Protein :Higher levels of protein in diet help to
increase the calcium absorption.
 Lactose :Lactose favors absorption of calcium in
infants.

23. FACTORS REDUCING THE CALCIUM
ABSORPTION
 Fiber :presence of excess fiber in the diet interferes
with absorption of calcium.
 Increased Gastrointestinal motility :Decreases
calcium absorption by reducing time available for
absorption to occur.
 Ageing : Calcium absorption is decreased during
old age.

24. DEFICIENCY
 Osteoporosis :
 Pores are seen in bones due to decalcification.
 Clinically symptoms are back pain, fracture of
bones, loss of teeth.
 Tetany :
 Hyper excitability of neural system.
 Convulsions
 Involuntary muscle spasm.

25. DIETARY SOURCES
 Rich sources: milk and milk products; Green leafy
vegetables like amaranth, fenugreek; Millets like
ragi, sesame.
 Poor sources: Cereals.

26. RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCES
GROUP CALCIUM mg/day
MAN 600
WOMAN 600
PREGNANT WOMAN 1200
LACTATING WOMAN 1200
INFANTS 500
CHILDREN 1-9 YRS 600
BOYS AND GIRLS 10-15 YRS 800
BOYS AND GIRLS 16-18 YRS 800

27. POTASSIUM
 Potassium is the main intracellular ion for all types
of cells, while having a major role in maintenance of
fluid and electrolyte balance.

28. FUNCTIONS
 Helps in neurotransmission.
 Helps in ion exchange between cells.
 Helps in muscle contraction.
 Generation of action potential-Spike like electric
discharge.

29. DEFICIENCY
 Hypertension
 Hypokalemia- symptoms are
 Diarrhea
 Diuresis
 Vomiting and
 May be fatal

30. SOURCES
 Sources- Beans; Green leafy vegetables(amaranth,
alfa-alfa); banana; Dried fruits(apricot, prunes,
dates, raisins); Avacado; Nuts(pistachio, almonds,
walnuts); Seeds(pumpkin, sunflower)
 Dried herbs, sundried Tomatoes, dark chocolate,
rice bran, roasted soya.

31. BY-
LOUIS PASTEUR TEAM
DAEDEEPYA, MADHAVI, KAVYA SREE, KALYANI BAI,
MAMATHA RANI, SUNITHA, RAJANI, ARUNA,
AKSHAYA,
LAXMI NARAYANAMMA.