Minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to function properly. They help your body with a variety of tasks, including:
- Building and repairing tissues: Minerals are essential for the growth and repair of tissues throughout your body. For example, calcium is essential for the formation of bones and teeth, while iron is essential for the formation of red blood cells.
- Regulating body fluids: Minerals help to regulate the balance of fluids in your body. For example, sodium and chloride help to regulate the amount of water in your blood, while potassium helps to regulate the electrical activity of your cells.
- Maintaining a healthy heart: Minerals help to maintain a healthy heart. For example, magnesium helps to regulate the heartbeat, while potassium helps to control blood pressure.
- Supporting nerve function: Minerals help to support nerve function. For example, calcium helps to transmit nerve signals, while magnesium helps to relax muscles.
- Boosting the immune system: Minerals help to boost the immune system. For example, zinc helps to produce white blood cells, while selenium helps to protect cells from damage.
Here is a list of minerals along with their main functions within the human body:
Macrominerals
- Calcium: Builds and maintains strong bones and teeth, helps with blood clotting, and regulates muscle and nerve function.
- Chloride: Helps regulate the amount of water in the body, maintains the acid-base balance of the blood, and helps with digestion.
- Magnesium: Helps regulate the heartbeat, relaxes muscles, and is involved in many enzyme reactions.
- Phosphorus: Builds and maintains strong bones and teeth, helps with energy production, and is involved in many enzyme reactions.
- Potassium: Helps regulate the electrical activity of the cells, maintains the fluid balance of the body, and helps with muscle contraction.
- Sodium: Helps regulate the amount of water in the body, maintains the acid-base balance of the blood, and helps with nerve transmission.
- Sulphur: Helps form connective tissue, proteins, and some hormones.
Microminerals
- Iron: Forms haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood.
- Iodine: Helps produce thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism.
- Manganese: Helps with many enzyme reactions, including those involved in energy production and bone formation.
- Copper: Helps with the formation of red blood cells and the absorption of iron.
- Fluoride: Helps to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities.
- Molybdenum: Helps with the metabolism of sulphur-containing amino acids.
- Selenium: Helps protect cells from damage and supports the immune system.
- Zinc: Helps with the formation of DNA and proteins, wound healing, the immune system, and steroid hormone synthesis.
It is important to note that some people may be at risk of mineral deficiencies, such as those who follow restrictive diets or have certain medical conditions. If you are concerned that you may have a mineral deficiency, talk to your doctor.
