Give one reason for the following statements:

a. Salt is added as a preservative in pickles.

b. We should not eat food items beyond the expiry date.

c. Deficiency of calcium in the diet leads to poor skeletal growth.

(a) Salt helps in removal of moisture from the food by the process of osmosis. Removal of moisture prevents the spoilage of food. Therefore, salt is added as a preservative in pickles.

(b) We should not eat food items beyond expiry date because their consumption beyond the expiry date can cause harmful effect on our body.

(c) Calcium is an important component of bones. It is a macronutrient. Bones are formed by calcium. Since it is required in large amount for the bone formation deficiency of it leads to poor skeletal growth. As the requirement of calcium is not fulfilled there is no proper development of bones and there is poor skeletal growth.