Question

Explain with examples: Micronutrients.

Answer 1

Hint: Nutrients are obtained from the food and are essential for the proper functioning of life. Nutrients provide us with good health, energy. There are many nutrients that must be present in our diet like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, etc.

Complete Answer:
Micronutrients: Micronutrients are the nutrients that are required by the body in very small quantities.
- They are also called as the essential elements.
- Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals.
- Humans must obtain micronutrients from food because the body cannot produce these types of nutrients.

Necessity of micronutrients:
- Vitamins are necessary for energy production, immune function, blood clotting and other functions.
- Minerals play an important role in growth, bone health, fluid balance, and several other processes.

Examples of micronutrients along with the disease caused by the deficiency of them and their prevention:

Sl.No.	Micronutrient	Disease caused by deficiency	Prevention methods
1	Vitamin A	Night Blindness	By eating Vitamin A rich foods such as yellow and orange coloured fruits like mango, capsicum, etc.
2	Vitamin C	Scurvy	By eating Vitamin C rich fruits such as lemon, oranges, broccoli, tomatoes, etc.
3	Vitamin D	Rickets	By eating Vitamin D rich foods such as milk, mushrooms, fish oil, etc.
4	Iron	Anaemia	By eating iron rich foods such as spinach, green leafy vegetables, beans, pulses, meat, etc.
5	Iodine	Goitre	By using iodized salt in food.

Note: Micronutrients are not produced in our body, they must be present in our food. They are also called as essential elements and include vitamins and minerals.