Minerals Notes… Minerals Minerals are elements other than carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen which are needed for good health Minerals are micronutrients Minerals are inorganic substances Minerals must be present in the soil in which food is grown in order to be incorporated into the food We also obtain some minerals from the water we drink, but the amounts vary widely Mineral availability and absorption is also affected as foods are cooked, processed and refined, and many naturally occurring minerals in food are removed Moderation: Minerals work in combination with each other and with other nutrients, so imbalances of any mineral can cause health problems – too little of any essential mineral can lead to deficiency diseases, and too much of any mineral can be toxic 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 Major minerals Major minerals are those needed in amounts greater than 100 mg per day Major minerals are sulfur, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chlorine, and magnesium Minor minerals The minor minerals are needed in trace amounts - less than 100 mg per day These metal ions are incorporated into enzymes, hormones, and other molecules They include iron, fluoride, zinc, copper, selenium, manganese, iodine, molybdenum, chromium, and cobalt Electrolytes Minerals in the body that carry an electric charge Function: regulate the amount of water in your body, blood pH, muscle action Electrolytes can be measured by laboratory studies of the blood serum The electrolytes are sodium, chlorine and potassium Minerals: macro, trace, non-essential trace, & electrolytes Boron Calcium Chlorine Chromium Cobalt Copper Fluoride Iodine Iron Magnesium Manganese Molybdenum Phosphorus Potassium Selenium Sodium Sulfur Zinc RDA Mineral RDA Boron Mineral RDA Phosphorus 1,000mg Calcium 1,000mg Potassium No RDA Chlorine No RDA Selenium No RDA Chromium 120mcg Sodium No RDA Sulfur No RDA Zinc 15mg Cobalt Copper 2mg Fluoride No RDA Iodine 150mcg Iron 18mg Magnesium 400mg Manganese 2mg Molybdenum 75mcg