Minerals, like vitamins, are simple chemical elements that cannot be synthesized by the body. There are sixteen different minerals; some are major (required intake 100 mg/day or more) and some are trace (required intake under 100 mg/day). They are used as non-protein substances to assist enzymes in their functions and serve as building materials for bones, teeth, tissue, muscle, blood, and nerve cells. Therefore, like vitamins, they act as coenzymes.
We know that the body is an intricate piece of infinite intelligence, and minerals are no different. Each and every mineral has to be in a certain balance; throw one off, and there will be a chain reaction leading to an illness.
Minerals are a solid, inorganic, natural substance needed by the human body. Where do minerals come from? When rock formations made up of mineral salts eventually erode, these minerals become part of the soil, which has billions of microbes (bacterium causing fermentation) that pass the salts to plants. Thus, we receive the minerals we need mainly by consuming these plants or herbivorous animals.
There are two main groups of minerals: bulk or macrominerals and trace or microminerals.
The main bulk minerals, which are needed in larger amounts, and their functions are:
Calcium: bones, teeth, gums, transmission of nerve impulses, hearbeat regularity
Magnesium: prevention of soft tissue calcification , enzyme activity catalyst, calcium/potassium uptake facilitator
Sodium: nerve and muscle function, water balance and proper pH levels, stomach
Potassium: muscular contractions, nervous system and heart rhythm, helps control water balance with sodium
Phosphorous: formation of bones and teeth, cell growth, heart muscle contractions, kidney function
The main trace minerals and their functions include:
Boron: assists in brain function and alertness; bones; helps metabolize calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium
Chromium: needed for energy; helps in metabolizing glucose, cholesterol, and fats; protein synthesis
Copper: bones, hemoglobin, red blood cells, formation of elastin (an elastic, fibrous glycoprotein found in connective tissue)
Germanium: improves oxygenation at a cellular level, helps rid body of toxins and poisons, maintains healthy immune system function
Iodine: healthy thyroid gland function, metabolism of excess fat (deficiency has been linked to breast cancer)
Iron: production of hemoglobin and myoglobin, immune system health, energy production
Manganese: blood sugar regulation, protein and fat metabolism, nerve health, immune function
Molybdenum: normal cell function, nitrogen metabolism
Selenium: antioxidant capacity, immune system protection via antioxidant function
Silicon: collagen, bones, connective tissue formation
Sulfur: blood disinfection, protection of cells by resisting of bacteria
Vanadium: bones, teeth, cellular metabolism
Zinc: powerhouse for immunity, helps with taste and smell acuity, prostate and reproductive gland function, protein synthesis, collagen formation
Since it can be very difficult in terms of today’s farming soils to obtain the proper ratios of minerals from our diets alone, it might be necessary to supplement with minerals. Chelated formulations of minerals seem to be favored by most health practitioners. In this type of supplement, the minerals are bound to a protein, which helps transport them to the bloodstream and allows for a greater absorption capacity.
Bottom Line? The more you learn about healthy nutrition and supplementation, the healthier you will be. And now I would like to invite you to claim your free instant access to The Reinvention of Nutrition Basics, Article by visiting http://www.tonydassisi.com From Tony DAssisi-The Health & Fitness Accountability Coach and Creator of The Life Wellness Approach.
