The facts about minerals and good health
In an ideal world, we would get all our minerals from the food
that we eat. However, in general we do not eat enough healthy
foods to supply these minerals. GM crops, depleted soil,
intensive farming and live stock rearing all produce food
products which are lacking in minerals. The essential minerals
we need to maintain a healthy body are Calcium, Chlorine,
Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Fluorine, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium,
Manganese, Molybdenum, Phosphorous, Potassium, Selenium, Sodium,
Sulphur, Vanadium and Zinc.
Calcium is an important mineral and about 90% of calcium
absorbed from the diet goes straight into the teeth and bones.
Adults need a daily intake of between 700 and 1000mg. Calcium
can be found in dairy products, eggs, green leafy vegetables,
salmon, sardines, soyabeans, nuts, seeds, pulses and bread.
Calcium promotes a healthy heart, healthy nerves, clots blood,
improves skin, contracts muscles, improves bone and teeth
health, relieves aching muscles and bones, reduces menstrual
cramps and tremors and maintains a correct acid-alkaline
balance. Taking extra calcium supplements will help with bone
loss in older women, high blood pressure in pregnant women,
protects against cancer of the colon and alleviate insomnia.
Chlorine is found in salt, kelp, olives, watercress, white
cabbage, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, asparagus,
celery, cucumbers, parsnips, carrots, onions, turnips and
pineapples. It regulates the blood's alkaline-acid balance,
water balance, osmotic pressure, produces the normal acid
environment in the stomach to aid digestion, it helps the liver
to function properly and cleans the body and intestines and
helps to keep you limber.
Chromium is found in shellfish, meat, chicken, corn oil, brewers
yeast and clams. It aids growth, prevents and lowers high blood
pressure and deters diabetes. Chromium also works with insulin
in the metabolism of sugar.
Cobalt is a mineral that is part of vitamin B12. It is essential
for red blood cells and prevents pernicious anaemia. It can be
found in clams, oysters, meat, liver grains, seeds, green leafy
vegetables and milk.
Copper is required by the body for healthy growth, brain,
liver, muscles, immunity, red and white blood cell development,
iron absorption, glucose and cholesterol metabolism. It is found
in shellfish and crustaceans, pulses, nuts, wholegrain cereals,
artichokes, avocados, garlic, mushrooms, radishes and green
vegetables.
Fluorine is best found in fluoridated drinking water, tea
leaves, seafood, milk, lettuce, eggs, lentils, cabbage, whole
grains and gelatine. It reduces tooth decay by binding to the
enamel and strengthening it. Fluoridated drinking water is
highly toxic. Fluorine is available in many foods and it is
highly unlikely that supplementation would ever be required. The
government is trying to increase the already-abundant level of
fluoride in drinking water creating the potential for the
increase in many health issues, including thyroid problems.
Fluoridated drinking water should really be avoided as best as
possible.
Iodine is an essential trace element which is vital for the
production of the thyroid hormones tri-iodothyronine (T3) and
thyroxine (T4) which control the metabolic rate. Iodine can be
found in seaweed products, marine fish and iodized salt.
Iron is an essential mineral needed for the production of
haemoglobin and the proper functioning of many enzymes. Iron
aids growth, prevents fatigue, helps with resistance to disease,
prevents and cure iron-deficiency anaemia and helps with good
skin tone. It can be found in oatmeal, pork liver, molasses,
beef kidney, asparagus, heart, liver, nuts, beans, raw clams,
oysters, dried peaches, red meat and egg yolks.
Magnesium strengthens teeth and bones, it is important for the
nervous system and heart muscles, it promotes healthy muscles,
it is essential for the production of energy and is a co-factor
in many of the body's enzymes. It can be found in wheat germ,
nuts, brewer's yeast, buckwheat flour, beans, garlic, raisins,
green peas, potato skins and crab.
Manganese aids in the formation of nerves, tissue, cartilage and
bones, stabilises blood sugar, reduces cell damage, healthy DNA
and RNA, vital for reproduction, red blood cell synthesis,
insulin production and activates enzyme systems. It can be found
in watercress, pineapple, okra, lima beans, berries, beetroot,
celery, oats and endives.
Molybdenum helps the body to get rid of the protein breakdown
products (uric acid), strengthens teeth and detoxifies the body.
It can be found in tomatoes, beans, wheat germ, lentils, pork
and lamb.
Phosphorous forms and maintains teeth and bones, builds muscle
tissue, it is needed for milk secretion, it helps maintain the
pH of the body, it is a part of DNA and RNA, and it helps with
energy production and metabolism. The best food sources are
fish, seeds, nuts, poultry, meat, whole grains and eggs.
Potassium promotes healthy muscles and nerves, it enables
nutrients to move into and waste to move out of cells, it
relaxes muscles, maintains fluid balance, aids the secretion of
insulin, it is involved in metabolism, stimulates gut movement
and maintains heart functioning. It can be found in watercress,
molasses, pumpkins, al green leafy vegetables, mint, citrus
fruits and sunflower seeds.
Selenium has antioxidant properties; it stimulates the immune
system, reduces inflammation, promotes a healthy heart, it is
vital for male reproduction, aids vitamin E's action and is
needed for metabolism. It is found in broccoli, wheat germ,
tomatoes, bran, onions and tuna fish.
Sodium maintains water balance and prevents dehydration, it is
used for muscle contraction, aids nerve functioning, used in
energy production and move nutrients into cells. Best food
sources are salt, shellfish, bacon, kidney, brains, carrots,
beetroot and artichokes.
Sulphur is essential for healthy skin, hair and nails, it helps
the liver with bile secretion, it aids the B vitamins and amino
acids in body metabolism and tissue building and helps maintain
oxygen balance vital for proper brain functioning. It is found
in cabbage, lean beef, fish, eggs and dried beans.
Vanadium is involved in fat and growth metabolism and stops
cholesterol formation. The best food source is fish.
Zinc is an important co-factor in metabolic enzymes; it helps
with immunity and is vital for growth, wound healing and sexual
maturity. It can be found in red meat, mustard, wheat germ,
eggs, pumpkin seeds and brewer's yeast.
In conclusion, minerals are essential and vital for a healthy
body. They can be found in a variety of food sources, eating a
balanced diet will deliver the majority of essential minerals
but for optimum health it would be wise to supplement the diet
with a multi-mineral supplement.