Vitamins and Minerals The Combination for Good Health

Minerals - Where do they Come From?

Minerals are essential for maintaining good health, your body processes minerals for critical processes such as heartbeat regulation, building strong bones and creating hormones. Some of the minerals listed below are only needed in small quantities, these are called trace minerals. Other minerals that are needed in larger amounts are called macro minerals.

Macromineral Food Sources and Benefits

Calcium

Calcium comes from dairy products such as milk and cheese and leafy green vegetables like lettuce, spinach and broccoli. Calcium helps the body create and maintain healthy bones and teeth. Calcium also helps with muscle contraction, blood clotting and resisting disease.

Chlorine

Chlorine can be found in common table salt and helps to maintain the body’s electrolyte balance and helps in the creation of digestive juices.

Magnesium

Magnesium can be found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and lettuce. In addition you can find magnesium in fish, beans, nuts and whole grain bread. Magnesium is important to ever major biological process used by the body. In addition, magnesium is used in the synthesis of cellular energy, protein and nucleic acids.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus can be found in common dairy products, vegetables, and poultry such as chicken and turkey, it may also be found in other meats. Phosphorus is important in support of all cell functions and also helps to build strong bones.

Potassium

Potassium can be found in fresh vegetables and fruit. This mineral is critical to many biologic processes including the synthesis of protein and energy production.

Sodium

Sodium can be found in common table salt and is needed to maintain water balance in the tissues of the body.

Sulfur

Sulfur can be found in dairy products, onions, garlic and meat and is needed for sulfur containing amino acids.

Trace Minerals

Iron

Iron can be found in many foods such as beef, fish, poultry, liver and kidneys. Iron is a critical component that helps red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissues in the body.

Manganese

Manganese can be found in nuts, whole-grain foods, beans and pineapple. This trace mineral is required for the proper formation of bones and activation of certain enzymes.

Copper

Copper is found in organ meats such as heart, liver and kidneys. It is also found in common foods such as nuts, dried fruits, tomato products and whole grain foods. Copper is a common component of many enzymes that produce energy and also help red blood cells, bone and connective tissue.

Iodine

Iodine can be found in seafood, eggs, cheese and in water. This mineral is required in the formation of thyroid hormones.

Zinc

Zinc can be found in meat, liver, seafood, and whole grain foods. Zinc is used to form enzymes and insulin. Zinc is also necessary for healthy skin and the healing of wounds.

Fluoride

Fluoride can be found in tea, seafood and fluoridated water. Fluoride is necessary for the proper formation of bones and teeth.

Selenium

Selenium can be found in meats, seafood and some cereals. Selenium acts a an antioxidant with vitamin E and is required for thyroid gland function