Plants extract minerals from soil. Though both vitamins and minerals are needed in adequate quantities for healthy living,minerals do not get the attention they deserve. Minerals are inorganic substances meaning non-living substances available in soil.
The body’s requirement of minerals vary according to age,gender and situations such as pregnancy,lactation and menopause. Some minerals are needed more than others. Animals eat plants to obtain these much needed minerals and humans eat both plants and animals to get minerals.
Minerals are necessary for our metabolism’s day to day functions without which it would become dysfunctional. Minerals keep blood and tissue fluids balanced,not too acidic or too alkaline. Minerals help our bodies in water retention as our bodies are mostly made up of water. Minerals help glands in maintaining optimum hormone production.
Our metabolism needs many dietary minerals for good health. The main ones are iron,calcium,zinc,phosphorus,sodium chloride,magnesium,potassium,iodine,sulfur,selenium,fluorine,chromium and vanadium. There is every likelihood that new ones will be found in the near future by research. Let us study here about the minerals iron and calcium.
Foods rich in iron are green leafy vegetables,whole grains,cereals,eggs,liver,meat,spinach ,grapes and dates. Iron is one of the vital minerals needed for the optimum function of blood. In blood it is present as hemoglobin that carries oxygen from lungs to all cells and takes back from cells the waste product carbon dioxide for exhalation. Iron requirement varies from person to person according to rate of growth,situations like pregnancy,menstrual periods,lactation and blood loss. Iron is lost due to nail and hair growth and excretion.
Iron deficiency leads to anemia resulting in feeling weak and tired all the time. Overdose of iron supplements might lead to iron poisoning,hence due care should be taken to avoid excess consumption.
Calcium is needed for healthy growth but most deficient in our diet. It is the most important mineral found in all tissues. Even if the diet is rich in calcium,our body is unable to digest it as it occurs in chemical forms that cannot be absorbed. So most of the calcium is excreted as waste.
The part played by calcium in our health is that it helps in the digestive process by stimulating the digestive enzymes. It helps voluntary muscles in contractions for limb movement. Calcium helps in building strong bones and teeth. It helps in nervous system maintenance. It helps in heart beat regulation. It helps in fighting the disease osteoporosis. It helps as anti-aging agent. It helps cure muscle twitching,spasms.
Excessive calcium is harmful to health as it may lead to stone formation and tissue hardening. Never take calcium supplements without your doctor’s advice. When buying calcium supplements look for the base substance from which it is made. If the supplement is made from oyster shell it considered safe but if it is bone meal or dolomite it may be toxic due to lead contamination. Foods high in calcium are green leafy vegetables,carrots,cabbage,milk,yogurt,cheese and ice cream.
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