Guide to Minerals
Minerals play a part in the maintenance of our immune cells, in blood coagulation along with the synthesis of oxygen in the blood, bone formation and in numerous other functions. Some, such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, are necessary in fairly large amounts. The need for others, known as trace minerals, is much smaller. In fact, although they are present in human tissue, a few of these trace elements are considered non-essential. The essential trace minerals include iron, zinc, fluoride and copper. Any of these minerals, whether essential or non-essential, is toxic if ingested in sufficient amounts for long periods.
| Minerals | Function | RDA |
|---|---|---|
| Boron | Boron is thought to help the body make use of the glucose, fats, oestrogen and other minerals such as calcium, copper and magnesium in the food we eat. | 2 mg |
| Calcium | Calcium is essential to maintaining total body health. The body needs it every day, not just to keep your bones and teeth strong over your lifetime, but to ensure proper functioning of muscles and nerves. It even helps your blood clot! | 800 mg |
| Chloride | Chloride helps regulate the balance of acid and alkali in the blood. It is a part of hydrochloric acid, which is found in the digestive juices of the stomach. | 800 mg |
| Chromium | Chromium is known to enhance the action of insulin, a hormone critical to the metabolism and storage of carbohydrate, fat and protein in the body. | 40 mcg |
| Fluoride | Fluoride is needed in small amounts to help reduce tooth decay. It also helps maintain strong bones. | 3.5 mg |
| Iodine | The most important use of iodine is the prevention of thyroid problems, as iodine is a vital mineral for our body, necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones play an important role in maintaining body temperature, heart rate, body weight and digestion of food. | 150 µg |
| Iron | Haemoglobin production is aided by iron. Haemoglobin carries oxygen to the cells and carbon dioxide from the lungs. Promotes growth, disease resistance and a healthy skin. Good for body energy. | 14 mg |
| Magnesium | Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, it keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein. | 370 mg |
| Manganese | Manganese activates enzymes systems involved in protein and energy metabolism. It is involved in connective tissue and bone formation, insulin action and cholesterol synthesis. Manganese is vital in the bio-synthesis of collagen as it helps activate key enzymes in the formation of collagen. | 2 mg |
| Molybdenum | Molybdenum is an important trace element as it is a crucial constituent of most enzymes in the body, thus being indispensable for many bodily processes. Molybdenum helps your body to absorb and utilise iron more efficiently, which is required to maintain healthy levels of haemoglobin in your body. | 150 mcg |
| Phosphorous | Phosphorous is vital to adequate human nutrition, as it plays a key part in the function and structure of the body. Phosphorus is also vital for communication between cells and for energy production. | 700 mg |
| Potassium | Potassium is an important mineral for the proper function of all cells, tissues and organs in the human body. It is also an electrolyte, a substance that conducts electricity in the body, along with sodium, chloride, calcium and magnesium. Potassium is crucial to heart function and plays a key role in skeletal and smooth muscle contraction, making it important for normal digestive and muscular function. | 2000 mg |
| Selenium | Selenium plays an important role in our immune system's function, in thyroid hormone metabolism and in reproduction. It is also part of the body's antioxidant defence system, preventing damage to cells and tissues. | 55 mcg |
| Sodium | The body uses sodium to regulate blood pressure and blood volume. Sodium is also critical for the functioning of muscles and nerves. | N/A |
| Zinc | Zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. It plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis and cell division. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood and adolescence and is required for proper sense of taste and smell. | 10 mg |
