AQA GCSE Food Prep: Vitamins and Minerals Mind Map

Essential Vitamins Your Body Needs

Ever wondered why your mum keeps telling you to eat your vegetables? Vitamins are micronutrients that do essential jobs throughout your body, and you can't survive without them.

Vitamin A keeps your immune system strong - basically your body's defence team against illness. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which means stronger bones and teeth. Without enough vitamin D, you'll end up with weak bones that break easily.

Vitamin K makes sure your blood clots normally when you get a cut, whilst vitamin E acts as an antioxidant. The good news? Vitamin E deficiency is pretty uncommon, so you're probably getting enough already.

Vitamin B12 supports energy production and forms a protective coating around your nerves. You'll find it in green leafy vegetables, cheese, and liver. A deficiency can lead to anaemia and damage to your connective tissue and blood vessels. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron and keeps your connective tissues and blood vessels strong - severe deficiency causes scurvy, though that's rare nowadays.

Quick Tip: Deficiencies in these vitamins are generally rare if you eat a varied diet, but vitamin D can be tricky in the UK due to limited sunlight.

Key Minerals for Peak Performance

Minerals might seem boring, but they're absolutely crucial for everything from strong teeth to preventing muscle cramps during PE lessons.

Calcium strengthens your teeth and bones, promotes growth in children, and keeps your nerves and muscles functioning properly. Not getting enough leads to weak bones and poor blood clotting - definitely not ideal when you're still growing.

Iron is a superstar mineral that supports haemoglobin in red blood cells, which transport oxygen around your body. It's commonly deficient in teenage girls due to menstruation, leading to anaemia and constant tiredness.

Magnesium supports your immune system, aids bone and teeth growth, and keeps your body energised. Without enough, you might experience muscle spasms, migraines, and weakness. Iodine regulates hormones in your thyroid gland - deficiency makes you tired and causes poor thyroid function.

Sodium regulates water in your body and controls nerve and muscle function, but too much causes high blood pressure and heart disease. Water itself is essential for normal brain function, blood pressure, bowel movements, and temperature regulation.

Remember: Most mineral deficiencies can be avoided by eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and varied protein sources.