“Vitamins and Minerals” is a common term, but very few people truly understand the difference between vitamins and minerals, and what each actually means for your body and your health. Most people think of minerals as compounds that are found in the earth, such as quartz or iron. Minerals are also present in very small amounts in many of the foods that we eat, including in meat which is typically an excellent source of iron. In the same way that vitamins are a crucial element contributing to the health of your body, minerals also help the body to grow, develop and to stay healthy over time. The body requires minerals for a variety of different functions to be performed, including building up strong bones and transmitting nerve impulses through the body. Some minerals are also required to create hormones, or to maintain heart health and a healthy heartbeat.
here are many different minerals that play a large part within the body, including but not limited to the following:
There are two different kinds of minerals that your body needs for health: Macro minerals, and Trace Minerals. Macro minerals are needed in larger amounts by your body than the trace minerals, and this group of minerals includes calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and sulfur. Trace minerals are minerals that the body does not require much of, so even though trace minerals are necessary for the body to function, only a small amount of each is actually necessary. Scientists have not yet figured out quite how much of each trace mineral is needed. Minerals in the trace mineral group include iron, manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, iodine, fluoride and selenium.
Most of the minerals that the body needs can be taken from the food that we eat on a regular basis.
Calcium – When it comes to your bones, Calcium is the most important of all macro-minerals. This mineral is in charge of building up strong bones and teeth. There are many foods that are especially rich in calcium, including dairy products like milk and cheese, canned fish like salmon and sardines with the bones intact, leafy green vegetables like spinach and broccoli, and calcium-fortified foods including cereal and orange juice.
Iron – The human body needs iron in order to effectively transport oxygen from the lungs into the rest of the body. The body needs oxygen in order to stay healthy, and this is why iron is so important. Iron is an important part of hemoglobin production, and hemoglobin is the part of your red blood cells that carry the oxygen throughout your body. Red meat like beef is especially rich in iron, but you can also find iron in eggs, beans, dried fruits and raisins, whole grains, enriched grains, tuna and salmon, and green leafy vegetables like broccoli or spinach.
Potassium – Potassium is responsible for keeping the nervous system and the muscles healthy and properly working. Body tissues and blood contain water, and potassium ensures that the water content is just right. There are many foods that are rich in potassium, including bananas, broccoli, and potatoes with their skins still on, leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, legumes like peas and lentils and dried fruits.
Zinc – Zinc is in charge of keeping the immune system in the best possible shape. Your immune system is what fights off infection and illness so it is imperative that it remains healthy at all times. Zinc also aids in cell growth, helping to heal wounds like cuts. Beef, pork, lamb and legumes are especially handy when it comes to putting zinc into your body.
There are a variety of different minerals that play a part in keeping the body healthy and running right. Some of these minerals are needed in large amounts on a daily basis. These macro-minerals include Calcium and Potassium. There are also minerals that are necessary in much smaller amounts and not quite as often. These trace minerals include manganese, iron, cobalt, fluoride and copper.
It is important to understand the usefulness that these minerals have within your body, to better ensure that you are getting the right minerals at the right times, and constantly fueling your body with all of the right ingredients. Minerals are often misunderstood, but they play a large part in keeping yourself healthy, and you should strive to keep the right concentration of these minerals in your body to promote your best health. Vitamins and minerals both are crucial to keeping yourself healthy, staving off illness and healing quickly from injuries.
Read more: www.healthhype.com/minerals-why-we-need-them-for-better-health.html