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Minerals Why our body needs them?
Minerals are essential for proper functioning of the body, for nervous system function, for the cellular metabolism and proper hydration of the lymphatic and vascular system. They maintain normal heart rhythm and muscle contraction.
Our body needs large amounts of minerals to stay healthy. All body tissues, bones, teeth, muscles, blood, nerves, contain minerals. Also, all nutrients like vitamins, proteins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, sugar, oils, require mineral salt to be of any biological use at all. All elements work together; if there is a shortage of one mineral, the body's chemistry becomes unbalanced.
Interesting facts
4% of the body's mass consists of minerals.
there are 60 minerals in the body out of which 22 are considered necessary for good health.
human body can manufacture some vitamins, but cannot manufacture the minerals.
they can be found in water and soil, root plants and animals.
Classification
major minerals (body requires more than 100 mg/day): Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfur. Click on the links to read more about these extremely important minerals.
trace minerals (body requires less than 100 mg/day): Cobalt, Iron, Zinc, Iodine, Copper, Fluorine, Manganese, Chromium, Selenium, Molybdenum.
Iron plays an important role in carrying oxygen to the tissues. It has long been the mineral best known because of its connection with anemia. Good dietary sources of Iron are red meat, liver, dark green leafy vegetables, and legumes. In addition, many foods are fortified with Iron. Iron-fortified, multivitamin supplements have been popular for decades.
Zinc is an important mineral found in all the cells of the body. It is necessary for normal physical growth in children and is also known for promoting healing and fighting infections. Zinc deficiencies in pregnant women can interfere with normal fetal development. Animal products, especially meat and seafood, are are the main dietary source of Zinc.
Selenium, another important mineral, is an antioxidant believed capable of preventing heart attacks and reducing the risk of certain types of cancer.
Minerals are supplied to the body by the food we eat. Plants take up the minerals from the soil, in the form of mineral salts. We ingest these minerals salts as we eat fruits, vegetables or animals that ingested these minerals in their food.
Studies demonstrate that foods grown naturally contain better mineral value. Think about those intense farming practices! The use of fertilizers creates unnatural mineral concentration. The base of most fertilizers are Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus or Potassium, so our food is not deficient in these minerals... but how about trace minerals? The body needs trace minerals to function properly. We can no longer rely on foods alone to ensure proper mineral intake. That's why people are becoming much more interested in natural grown, organic foods.
The natural medicine strongly recommends the use of Celtic Sea Salt as a multi-mineral regime, very useful to maintain the body vitality. In many cases minerals are required in larger, therapeutic doses, prescribed by doctors, but for everyday requirements the best supplement is a mineral salt, which is unrefined sea salt. The minerals and trace elements found in sea water and harvested naturally work to maintain proper body functioning. Using this sea salt on a daily basis is like taking a multi-mineral, but much cheaper, tastier and healthier.
All salt is not the same. Scientists and researchers criticize salt, as being toxic and poisonous. They refer to refined salt, which contains basically only two minerals, Sodium and Chloride, together with other chemicals and bleaches to prevent water absorption in the container! All of these chemicals contribute to the problems refined salt causes, like hypertension, fluid retention, fatigue, anemia, etc.
Bottom line is that our body can not function without salt. We can't digest our food without salt, our heart can not function, the glands, liver, kidneys can't function. By using unrefined, natural salt we provide our body with all the trace minerals it needs for proper functioning.
Minerals Daily Requirements
The daily requirements of minerals can be obtained from a well balanced diet.
Good dietary sources of minerals, foods fortified with minerals, as well as a good multivitamin supplement are extremely important at menopausal age.
This table shows the recommended dietary allowance for women, by Food and Nutrition Board, National Academy of Science.
Don't forget! Like vitamins, excess minerals can produce toxic effects. The toxic ranges do not apply to each individual. Dosage must be prescribed individually, because some people may be able to absorb more than others. Ask your doctor before taking any supplements.
Minerals are essential for proper functioning of the body, for nervous system function, for the cellular metabolism and proper hydration of the lymphatic and vascular system. They maintain normal heart rhythm and muscle contraction.
Don't forget! Like vitamins, excess minerals can produce toxic effects. The toxic ranges do not apply to each individual. Dosage must be prescribed individually, because some people may be able to absorb more than others.