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Minerals - Fluoride and Iodine

Fluoride and iodine are both trace elements, which are types of minerals. We only need very tiny amounts of trace elements.

Fluoride

Fluoride

  • We get fluoride from dental products, like mouthwash and toothpaste, as well as some water supplies, seafood and tea.
  • The NHS suggests brushing teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste to meet daily requirements.
  • We need fluoride to maintain healthy teeth, as fluoride helps to strengthen teeth, fight off tooth decay and harden enamel.
Excess and too little fluoride

Excess and too little fluoride

  • Excess fluoride is poisonous and can cause discoloured teeth, cancer as well as problems with bones.
  • Not getting enough fluoride can cause teeth and enamel to weaken, eventually leading to tooth decay.
Iodine

Iodine

  • We get iodine from vegetables, dairy products and seafood.
  • We need iodine to make certain hormones.
  • A serious iodine deficiency can lead to goitre (swelling of the neck) as well as complications in unborn children.

Water

Water makes up a large part of the body. Approximately 60% of the human body consists of water. Water is found in body fluids, like saliva, sweat and blood, as well as body cells.

Why do we need water?

Why do we need water?

  • We need water to:
    • Keep skin and mucous membranes healthy.
    • Remove waste (for example, for excretion).
    • Control our body temperature (for example, through sweating).
    • Support digestion.
    • Help with chemical reactions in the body.
Sources

Sources

  • We get water from both food (e.g. milk, meat, fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables) and drinks.
  • Water is added to foods too, like soups, pastries and pasta.
Losing water and dehydration

Losing water and dehydration

  • We lose water from our bodies through breathing, urinating, excreting faeces and sweating.
  • Drinking too little water (to make up for water loss) causes dehydration. Dehydration causes:
    • Overheating.
    • Feeling weak and nauseous.
    • Reactions to slow down.
    • Confusion.
    • Thickening of the blood (it's more difficult for the heart to pump thick blood around the body).
    • Change in heart rate and blood pressure.
Quantities

Quantities

  • A person should try to drink around 2 litres of water per day.
  • A person should drink more than 2 litres if it's particularly hot or if they're exercising.
Overhydration

Overhydration

  • Drinking lots and lots of water in a short space of time can have serious consequences. Symptoms can include:
    • Feeling confused or nauseous.
    • Headaches.
    • Diluting substances in the blood and the body's concentration of nutrients.
    • Organ failure (e.g. kidney and heart).
Jump to other topics
1

Food Preparation Skills

2

Food, Nutrition & Health

3

Food Science

4

Food Safety

5

Food Choice

6

Food Provenance

Practice questions on Minerals & Water 2

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    Why do we need fluoride?Fill in the list
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    Why do we need water?Fill in the list
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