Summative 8

“Minerals”

By: Steven Dowshen, MD, Kids’ Health Online

Did you ever notice how TV commercials for breakfast cereal always mention vitamins and minerals? But when you think of minerals, food isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Aren’t minerals something you find in the earth, like iron and quartz?

Well, yes, but small amounts of some minerals are also in foods—for instance, red meat, such as beef, is a good source of iron.

Just like vitamins, minerals help your body grow, develop, and stay healthy. The body uses minerals to perform many different functions—from building strong bones to transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are even used to make hormones or maintain a normal heartbeat.

Macro and Trace

The two kinds of minerals are: macrominerals and trace minerals. Macro means “large” in Greek (and your body needs larger amounts of macrominerals than trace minerals). The macromineral group is made up of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur.

A trace of something means that there is only a little of it. So even though your body needs trace minerals, it needs just a tiny bit of each one. Scientists aren’t even sure how much of these minerals you need each day. Trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the minerals you get from food.

Calcium

Calcium is the top macromineral when it comes to your bones. This mineral helps build strong bones so you can do everything from standing up straight to scoring that winning goal. It also helps build strong, healthy teeth for chomping on tasty food.

Iron

The body needs iron to transport oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Your entire body needs oxygen to stay healthy and alive. Iron helps because it’s important in the formation of hemoglobin (say: HEE-muh-glo-bun), which is the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

Potassium

Potassium (say: puh-TAH-see-um) keeps your muscles and nervous system working properly. Did you know your blood and body tissues, such as muscles, contain water? They do, and potassium helps make sure the amount of water is just right.

Zinc

Zinc helps your immune system, which is your body’s system for fighting off illnesses and infections. It also helps with cell growth and helps heal wounds, such as cuts.

When people don’t get enough of these important minerals, they can have health problems.

For instance, too little calcium—especially when you’re a kid—can lead to weaker bones. Some kids may take mineral supplements, but most kids don’t need them if they eat a nutritious diet. So eat foods with those minerals and stay healthy!

"The Growing Line"

Rosa was eating her pancakes and sausage too fast. “Don’t gobble,” her mother said. “You have plenty of time. The movie doesn’t begin until ten o’clock.”

It was Saturday morning and Beauty and the Beast was going to be shown at school.

“But I have to be first in line,” said Rosa. “If I’m first, then maybe I will get to sit next to Miss Green.”

Miss Green was Rosa’s favorite teacher. She had long brown hair, and she smiled a lot. Rosa finished her pancakes, put on her sweater, and ran to the door.

But her mother called after her, “Rosa, come back. You forgot to brush your teeth.” Rosa ran back, brushed her teeth, and ran to the door.

But her mother called after her, “Rosa, you forgot your dollar for the movie. Come back, and I will give it to you.” The principal, Mr. Williams, was going to collect all the money to buy toys for children in the hospital.

While her mother looked in her purse for the dollar, Rosa hopped up and down saying, “Please hurry!” She so wanted to be first in line.

Rosa hurried to school as fast as she could, but she arrived too late. Amira was already standing on the top step of the main entrance. Rosa took her place behind Amira. She was disappointed not to be first, but it wasn’t too bad to be second. After all, Miss Green had two sides. If Amira sat on one side, Rosa could have the other side.

But now Jen was coming up to join them. Jen was Amira’s best friend. Jen said, “Rosa, could I please stand in front of you, so I can be right after Amira?” Rosa shook her head. She could not let Jen stand in front of her. That would make her third, and Miss Green did not have three sides. Jen turned to Amira. “Amira, you will let me stand in front of you, won’t you?”

Amira said, “All right.” She could not say no to her best friend.

So now Rosa was third in line. More children kept coming. Jen let a boy with red hair stand in front of her, and he let a boy with a computer game stand in front of him. Everyone else who came was able to get into line ahead of a friend. The line grew longer and longer. Poor Rosa was not third anymore. Soon she was tenth, then twenty-first. No matter how many children came, Rosa was last in line.

By ten o’clock the line stretched all the way around the school to the side entrance. Rosa was standing just in front of the side entrance when the door suddenly opened. Mr. Williams was there. He was surprised to see the line of children facing the wrong way. “Now, why on earth…,” he wondered aloud. Then he said, “I guess no one told them to come in the side entrance.”

The principal cupped his hands around his mouth and called, “Turn around, boys and girls, and have your dollar ready!” Naturally, Rosa was first in line. At last! She gave her dollar to the principal and went into the auditorium. Miss Green was already sitting down. Rosa went over and sat down in the seat next to her.

“Well, Rosa!” Miss Green said, smiling. “You must have hurried to be first inside.”

“I did,” said Rosa happily, and she settled back to wait for the movie to begin.