Vitamins
&
minerals
Many different vitamins and minerals are present in food and are required
in small amounts to maintain good health. To ensure we get all the vitamins and minerals we need, it is important to eat a well-balanced, varied diet.
Vitamin A
Good for vision, skin and immune function
Found in cantaloupe melon, pak choi, passion fruit, spinach, sweet potato, cheese, cream, eggs & liver
Vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin
Good for bones, teeth and muscles
as well as playing an important role
in the immune system
Found in fortified breakfast cereals, eggs, fortified spreads & soya drinks (dairy alternatives), oily fish, pork
Folate
Particularly important during pregnancy
as well as being good for energy and
immune function
Found in asparagus, beetroot, blackberries, black-eyed beans, strawberries, cashews, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, walnuts, bran, fortified breakfast cereals, rye flour, wheatgerm, blue cheese, eggs, liver
Vitamin B12
Good for energy and immune function
Found in fortified breakfast cereals & nutritional yeast, yeast extracts, cheese, eggs, fortified dairy alternatives e.g. soya drinks, game, milk, oily fish, pork, poultry, red meat, shell fish, white fish
Vitamin E
A great antioxidant vitamin
Found in avocado, blackberries, butternut squash, almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, crab, eggs, prawns, salmon
Vitamin K
Good for bones and blood clotting
Found in broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, spinach, watercress
Zinc
Good for bones and fertility
Found in cashews, pecans, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, bran, wholemeal bread,
rye & wholemeal flours, wheatgerm, crab, duck, mussels, offal, pork, poultry, red meat
Copper
Good for immune function, skin and hair
Found in dried apricots, mushrooms,
red kidney beans, sultanas, almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower
seeds, soya & wholemeal flours, couscous, quinoa, wild rice, crab, duck, offal, prawns, sardines, venison
Phosphorus
Good for teeth and bones
Found in black eye beans, lentils, red kidney beans, soya beans, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, bran, muesli, wheatgerm, wholemeal bread, cheese, eggs, meat, poultry, yoghurt, shellfish, white & oily fish
Iron
Good for oxygen transportation around the body, cognitive development and prevents fatigue
Found in lentils, prunes, raisins, red kidney beans, watercress, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds,
bran, wholemeal flours, fortified breakfast cereals, quinoa, wheatgerm, cockles, eggs, game, mussels, offal, red meat
Iodine
Good for thryoid function
Found in cod, crab, eggs, haddock, mackerel, mussels
Vitamin B6
Good for energy and reducing fatigue
Found in avocado, dried figs, green peppers, plantain, pomegranate, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, walnuts, bran, wholemeal flour, fortified breakfast cereals, wheatgerm, chicken, game, mackerel, pork & tuna
Vitamin B1
Good for heart health
Found in oranges, peas, potato, rocket, sweetcorn, Brazil nuts, pecans, pine nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, bran, bread, brown, white & wholemeal flours, couscous, fortified breakfast cereals, pork & salmon
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Good for eyes and energy
Found in mushrooms, almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, bran, fortified breakfast cereals, soya flour, wheatgerm, cheese, crab, eggs, game meat, oily fish, pork, yoghurt
Vitamin C
Good for immune function and energy –
and surprisingly, bones, teeth & gums
Found in Brussel sprouts, cabbage, kiwi, mango, peppers, spinach, citrus fruits
Vitamin B3
Good for skin and energy
Found in broad beans, mushrooms,
peanuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, bran, wholemeal bread, wholemeal flours, fortified breakfast cereals, quinoa, haddock, oily fish, pork, poultry, red meat
Potassium
Good for maintaining a normal blood pressure
Found in avocado, banana, celery, parsnip, potato, almonds, chestnuts, pistachios, walnuts, bran, quinoa, soya flour, wheatgerm, wholemeal flour, lamb, pork, turkey, white and oily fish
Magnesium
Good for bones, teeth & muscle as well
as energy
Found in dried figs, okra, soya beans,
Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds, brown, rye & wholemeal flours, muesli, porridge oats, quinoa
Calcium
Good for bones, teeth, muscle and blood
Found in dried figs, okra, rocket, spinach, watercress, almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, bread, soya flour, cheese, fish with edible bones, fortified dairy alternatives, milk, yoghurt
Manganese
Good for energy and bones
Found in bean sprouts, blueberries, chicory, mange tout, pineapple, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, bran, bread, brown rice, couscous, wheat germ
Selenium
Good for immune function, hair & nails
Found in Brazil nuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, bran, egg noodles, seeded bread, wheatgerm, eggs, game, oily fish, poultry, seafood, white fish
Vitamin supplements
Most of us should meet our vitamin and mineral requirements by eating a healthy, well balanced diet. Certain groups, however, for example the sick, elderly, post-menopausal women, pregnant women or individuals following restrictive diets, may need to take an additional vitamin or mineral supplement. Please consult your doctor for advice.