What Do Minerals Do For Your Body?

Similar to vitamins, minerals benefit your body to grow, develop, and stay healthy. The body uses minerals to perform many different functions. From building strong bones to diffusing nerve impulses. Some minerals are even used to create hormones or maintain a normal heartbeat. The body needs countless number of minerals called essential minerals. Essential minerals are sometimes divided up into major minerals (macrominerals) and trace minerals (microminerals). These two groups of minerals are equally important, but trace minerals are needed in smaller amounts than major minerals. The amounts needed in the body are not an indication of their importance.1 These two variables have different mineral for each and they include:
Macrominerals

• Sodium-Needed for proper fluid balance, nerve transmission, and muscle contraction. Foods that have sodium are table salt, soy sauce; large amounts in processed foods; small amounts in milk, breads, vegetables, and unprocessed meats.1
• Chloride-Needed for proper fluid balance, stomach acid. Foods that have chloride are table salt, soy sauce; large amounts in processed foods; small amounts in milk, meats, breads, and vegetables.1

Microminerals

• Iron-Part of a molecule (hemoglobin) found in red blood cells that carries oxygen in the body; needed for energy metabolism. Foods that contain iron are organ meats; red meats; fish; poultry; shellfish (especially clams); egg yolks; legumes; dried fruits; dark, leafy greens; iron-enriched breads and cereals; and fortified cereals.1
• Zinc-Part of many enzymes; needed for making protein and genetic material; has a function in taste perception, wound healing, normal fetal development, production of sperm, normal growth and sexual maturation, immune system health. Foods that contain zinc are meats, fish, poultry, leavened whole grains, vegetables.2

References:

1Minerals: Their Functions and Sources: Healthwise Medical Information on eMedicineHealth. (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2016, from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/minerals_their_functions_and_sources-health/article_em.htm

2Benefits of Vitamins & Minerals. (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2016, from http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-vitamins-minerals-5991.html