Just like vitamins, minerals are essential to life. They function as coenzymes (they help carry out some chemical reactions in your body such as the processing of carbohydrates to produce energy). They are also essential for the proper utilization of vitamins. Some even help maintain stable blood sugar levels and aid in the formation of bone and blood cells.
Minerals can be classified into two groups, bulk and trace. Bulk minerals are needed in a greater quantity than trace minerals. Examples of bulk include calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium.
Examples of trace include boron, chromium, copper, iodine and manganese.
Many of both groups can be found in various vegetables. It might surprise you that good sources of calcium actually include broccoli, cabbage, kale and mustard greens. Foods rich in copper include legumes nuts, seafood, egg yolks, avocados, whole grains and cauliflower. Of course, if you don’t like that type of food, you can always choose a good supplement. The tough part is keeping your intake in balance. For example, too much calcium can interfere with the absorption of zinc and excess zinc can interfere with calcium absorption.
You would be well advised to consult your health care professional before deciding on dosage amounts.
Here is a complete list of all of the minerals you need.
Calcium
Chromium
Copper
Germanium
Iodine
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Molybdenum
Phosphorous
Potassium
Selenium
Silicon
Sodium
Sulfur
Vanadium
Zinc
Your age, activity level, size, diet, lifestyle factors and health issues could affect how much of any nutrient you may need. For example, magnesium is depleted from the body with alcohol use and antacids can deplete your iron levels.
Here are some examples of disorders that minerals can effect:
A potassium deficiency has been associated with acne.
Zinc helps with all types of skin disorders including age spots and is a powerful immune system stimulant.
Boron improves brain and memory function.
Magnesium helps relieve anxiety, nervousness, muscular spasms and tics. It is best to take magnesium in combination with calcium.
Magnesium and calcium are also necessary for normal brain and nervous system function.
Germanium is a powerful immune system stimulant which helps deter cancer growth.
Anemia can be related to copper deficiency, not just an iron deficiency.
A manganese deficiency has been linked to ear disorders.
Copper and manganese help retard the growth of cataracts.
Boron is important for bone health and has been shown in studies that it can increase calcium absorption by as much as 30 percent.
Silicon is needed for skin and tissue repair even when healing gangrene.
Potassium plays a role in the transmission of nerve impulses (such as in hearing).
Selenium deficiency leads to a reduced sperm count in men and infertility in women.
Laura Diane Simmons
LDS Enterprises
http://www.tophealthalternatives.com
