Eat Up! - Nutrition Trivia Quiz

Answer: Iron

Iron is an important metal that the body requires. It has a role in development of hemoglobin in your red blood cells (RBCs) which are important for transport of oxygen. Basically, one of the major events in your body (respiration) can be controlled by the amount of iron in your body.

The deficiency of iron in the body leads to a condition called anemia. Iron can be found in plenty in vegetables like spinach, kale and broccoli. It can also be found in meat products like liver.

Answer: Protein

Proteins are important for building muscles. Proteins are made up of amino acids. Food sources of protein include legumes like peas and beans. Meat products like fish usually contain a lot of protein. I'm sure you already know that egg whites are also a rich source of proteins. Dairy products like cheese and milk are also recommended if someone is looking to increase proteins in their diet. Proteins are often called building blocks of the body.

Answer: Carrot

Vitamin A has a lot of functions in the body. Its most important function is maintaining good vision or eyesight. Vitamin A is also important for developing a good immunity and proper skin functions. A carrot has a lot of vitamin A content. Other food items that have vitamin A are cod liver oil, pumpkins, apricots, sweet potato, spinach, etc.

Not having enough vitamin A in your diet can lead to problems like night blindness or other eye problems. In some countries, vitamin A supplements are given to babies a few months after they are born. That is how important they are.

Answer: Calcium

Calcium is a very important mineral for the human body. It is absolutely essential for the formation of bones and teeth in humans. It is also important in other body functions in humans, like hormone control. A hormone from the parathyroid gland is very closely related to the actions of calcium in the body. Vitamin D is also associated with the utilization of calcium in the body. Food sources of calcium include dairy products like milk and cheese, fishes like sardines and salmon, etc. Kale is also a good source of calcium.

Answer: Iodine

Iodine is a nutrient which your body needs in small amounts. Its most important function is in the production of the thyroxine hormone from your thyroid gland. Without enough iodine from your diet, the gland will not be able to produce the hormone and it will affect the way your body functions. Seaweed like kelp contains a lot of iodine.

In many countries, iodized salt is used to increase the intake of iodine.

Answer: Vitamin D

Vitamin D is synthesized in the skin through the use of sunlight. So it is good to get a good amount of time (but not too much!) in the sun, if you want vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for a lot of functions in the body that involve bones and the skin. Fungi like mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D.

Other sources are fish like salmon and tuna. Deficiency of vitamin D causes a disease called rickets in children. In adults, the disease is called osteomalacia.

Answer: Salt

Salt is basically sodium chloride. It is the most important and most common source of sodium for most people. Sodium has many important functions in the body. It can regulate the volume of blood that is flowing through your circulatory system and thus, it can control your blood pressure.

It is important not to eat too much of salt or too little of it. Low sodium levels in the body is known as hyponatremia.

Answer: Meat

Animal-based food products, mainly meat, can contain abundant amounts of cholesterol. Red meat, yolks of eggs, butter, etc., are common sources of cholesterol. Cholesterol is basically a type of lipid (otherwise known as fat). It is an important part of the cells of many living beings, plants and animals alike. Cholesterol is required for producing many important molecules in the human body like steroid hormones and vitamin D. An increase in certain types of cholesterol can lead to blockages in the blood vessels of the body causing heart problems.

Answer: Potassium

Potassium is present abundantly in bananas, yams, apricots and in fact chocolate. It is one of the most important minerals in your body and it has a role in many functions. It has a role in metabolism of glucose and insulin. It also has a role in the functioning of muscles in the heart, the digestive system and the musculo-skeletal system. Potassium also has a role in controlling blood pressure. Low potassium levels in the body is called hypokalemia.

The element symbol for potassium is 'K'.

Answer: Vitamin C

Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid and it is mostly present in foods from plant sources. Sources of vitamin C include salty plums, kiwifruits, Indian gooseberries, guavas, oranges, broccoli, lemons, etc. It is present in most citrus fruits. Deficiency of vitamin C causes scurvy.

This disease causes excessive bleeding from places like the gums. Also, low levels of vitamin C have been linked to infections. In the normal human body, vitamin C helps in wound healing and in the functioning of the nervous system.