Minerals

Minerals are essential to maintain good health and for the proper functioning of vitamins, enzymes, hormones and other metabolic activities in the body. They are an important component of tissues and fluids. Minerals can be classified into three different groupings:

• They are essential micro nutrients, they are necessary, but in small amounts. The body contain large quantities of calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium and sodium - these are the macro minerals. They play a vital role in bone, heart, muscle and brain functioning.
• Chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc are the trace minerals, they are present in minute quantities.
• Some minerals like potassium, sodium and magnesium also function as electrolytes. The body uses electrolytes to help regulate nerve and muscle function and maintain acid-base balance and fluid balance.

People who eat a balanced diet and a variety of food stuffs are unlikely to develop a mineral deficiency. For eg. , vegetarians and infants are at a risk for iron deficiency. Doctors can detect many common nutritional disorders or an electrolyte imbalance by measuring the levels of minerals in a sample of blood or urine.