1. Elements & Health
Project
Allison Pernas
Ms.Sunday
Period 5

2. How do humans ingest it (by
eating or drinking which
foods or liquids, etc.)
Almost all foods contain
phosphorus. Particularly rich
sources include dairy products
(milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese),
meat, poultry, fish, tofu and
eggs. Food additives added
during food processing can also
contribute to phosphorus intake,
such as the phosphoric acid
found in soft drinks.

3. How this element benefits
humans when they ingest
(eat or drink) it
The mineral phosphorus is a
major component of bones and
teeth, second only to calcium.
Phosphorus helps to maintain a
normal pH (acid-base balance) in
the body and generates and
utilizes energy.

4. what happens to humans
when they do not ingest
sufficient amounts of
that element
Phosphorus deficiency is quite rare in
healthy individuals. Dietary
phosphorus deficiency is usually only
seen in those near total starvation,
chronic users of aluminum-containing
antacids, alcoholics and diabetics
recovering from ketoacidosis (a
condition in which the blood becomes
acidic). Deficiency results in low blood
levels of phosphorus, which is
characterized by anorexia, anemia,
muscle weakness, bone pain, confusion,
increased susceptibility to infection,
difficulty walking and, in severe cases,
death.

5. How do humans ingest it (by
eating or drinking which
foods or liquids, etc.)
Copper is found in a wide variety
of foods. The best sources of
copper are organ meats
(especially liver), seafood, nuts,
seeds, wheat-bran cereals and
whole-grain products.

6. How this element benefits
humans when they ingest
(eat or drink) it
Copper is a mineral that works
with iron to form healthy red
blood cells. Copper helps to
produce energy in cells and form
a protective covering of your
nerves and connective tissues.

7. what happens to humans
when they do not ingest
sufficient amounts of
that element
Copper deficiency is relatively rare in
humans, but has been found in a few
special cases. It has been observed in
premature infants fed cow’s milk
exclusively, infants recovering from
malnutrition and patients with
prolonged artificial (tube and
intravenous) feedings. In these cases, the
symptoms associated with copper
deficiency include a specific anemia (that
can be corrected by copper
supplementation) and abnormally low
levels of white blood cells

8. How do these elements
interact with each other
in our bodies?
Phosphorus/Cu interaction was
found when high levels of P accentuated
an acute Cu deficiency in citrus
seedlings. However, Cu and Zn solubilities
can be increased by high levels of P
fertilization. This interaction is believed
to occur at the site of absorption...possibly
with Cu precipitation at the root surface.
In other studies, applied P reduced
the effect of toxic levels of Cu. Excess Cu
can decrease P and Fe absorption