Nutrients as determinants of health

[perpetual]

How do we like the functions of sodium, water, protein, carbohydrates, vitamin A and fats (not just mono/poly) to health?
e.g Vitamin C aids absorption of iron to prevent anaemia

[SimmoP-12]

Do you mean link them? haha
As in how do the vitamins and nutrients relate back to the NHPA's?

[perpetual]

No, as in how the function as determinants of health.
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/exams/hhd/healthhumdev_assessrep_11.pdf
Question 2 Section A is an example, and explains Vitamin A for me!

[yearningforsimplicity]

You just have to explain how too little or too much of that nutrient disadvantages or benefits health. You can do this in terms of linking the nutrient to how nutritional deficiencies that may arise if you don't have enough of it (e.g. iron -> anaemia/ Vitamin D -> Rickets / Fluoride -> dental caries / Vitamin A -> night blindness). You don't HAVE to know the deficiency 'names' but at least know the health effect of being deficient in that nutrient (e.g. instead of writing 'dental caries', you could always just say 'prevents teeth decay' so you don't have to be extremely technical in terms of your answer)

Or you can explain the 'health function' generally, in terms of indicating how the nutrient impacts health through its effect on body functions. E.g. sodium's "health function" is to maintain normal functioning of nerves and enable normal muscle contraction

and in terms of the macronutrients, you just do the same so although you need e.g. protein for repair and maintenance of cells, too much of it easily converts to fat which increases risk of atherosclerosis. and although you need for e.g. sodium for normal functioning of muscles and nerves, too much sodium obviously causes your heart to pump blood extremely rapidly thereby causing high blood pressure (hypertension).