Vitamin Quiz Answers

Vitamin Quiz Answers

Question #1. What are the two categories of vitamins, based on how the body absorbs and stores them? 

Answer: b. Water-soluble and Fat-soluble 

Scientists generally divide vitamins into these two categories based on how they are absorbed and stored by your body. The water-soluble vitmains are the B's and Vitamin C. The fat-soluble ones are Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin K.

Water-soluble vitamins, as the name suggests, can be dissolved in water, so they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream. They travel freely though the blood to the places in your body where they are needed and any excess can be removed by the kidneys and excreted through the urine.

Fat-soluble vitamins, because they cannot dissolve in water, must be absorbed through the lymph and then be transported in the blood by protein carriers. Any excess can be stored in the fat storage areas of your body.

Fat-soluble or water-soluble vitamins differ in how they are handled in your body. The significance of this to you is that since the fat-soluble ones can be stored for later use, you probably don’t need to worry as much about a deficiency. However, they also can be more toxic because of the very fact that your body does not excrete the excess.

Water-soluble vitamins must be obtained almost daily, since your body will excrete the excess each day. By the same token, they are less likely to become toxic, although it is still possible if you take very large doses.


Question #2:  What affects the vitamin content of the foods you eat?

Answer: e. all of the above 

Vitamins in foods can be destroyed by light, heat and oxygen. Storage methods and food preparation techniques will affect the amount retained by the foods. To minimize this problem, refrigerate produce in airtight containers, and during preparation, steam or cook vegetables lightly, avoiding high temperatures and extended cooking times whenever possible.


Question #3:  What is the best way to get your vitamins?

Answer: c. from foods 

It is generally agreed that the best way to get nutrients in in your diet is from the foods you eat. Even if you take a supplement, the idea is to do just that—supplement—the foods in your diet, not replace them.

The nutrients in food seem to be more accessible to your body, than those from pills because they are not isolated, but surrounded by other substances that work with them to keep you healthy. This is not to say you should not take a supplement; many health experts recommend that you do. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that a pill can replace nutritious whole foods in your diet.


Question #4:  From which food groups can you get the vitamins you need to be healthy?

Answer: e. all of the above 

Vitamins are found in varying degrees in all of the food groups. Fruits… Vegetables… Cereals… Grains… Meat and other Protein foods… Dairy products… Fats and oils…

Eating a balance of food selections from all of the groups will help insure that you are getting all of the vitamins you need to be healthy.


Question #5:  What does it mean when foods are “enriched” or “fortified?”

Answer: a. Foods have nutrients replaced or added to make them more nutritious 

Many products that we eat are enriched or fortified with nutrients. That is, nutrients are added to the food either to replace those removed in processing or to make the food more nutritious.

Most milk has Vitamin A and/or D added. White flour is enriched with B vitamins, as are many white flour products, such as cereals, bread and pasta. Many juice drinks are fortified with Vitamin C.


Bonus Question:  What is a “precursor” with regard to vitamins?

Answer: d. An inactive form of the vitamin that can be converted to the active form 

Some vitamins are available from your food in the form of a “precursor.” This is an inactive form that can be converted by your body to the active form. An example of this is the beta-carotene found in carrots and other yellow, orange and dark green, leafy vegetables. If needed, your body can convert beta-carotene to Vit A.


What your score means

--If you had 0-1 Correct Answers: You probably need to get more vitamins in your diet, so you might want to take a mega-dose of education about them!

--If you had 2-3 Correct Answers: You know more about vitamins than most people, but you could probably use a small booster shot of information.

--If you had 4-5 Correct Answers: Your vitamin knowledge status is excellent, so you may not need to supplement what you already know!

--If you had all 6 Correct Answers: You get an A for Being Cognizant that it is Definitely Essential to seek Knowledge about vitamins and how they contribute to vibrant health!



Did you miss the previous Nutrition Quizzes?

Click on the links below to go to past quiz pages.

Basic Nutrition Quiz

Protein Quiz

Carbohydrates Quiz


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