Minerals

Minerals are a micronutrient that our bodies need to remain healthy. Like vitamins, minerals do not provide any calories, but without them, our bodies cannot function properly. The body cannot make minerals on its own, so we must get them from the foods that we eat, and we have to eat a variety of foods because there is no one food source that contains all of the minerals that we need to consume on a daily basis.

Here is a picture of the periodic table of elements, which I’m sure we all have seen at some point in our lives. Some of the elements listed on this chart are the very same minerals that we need in order to perform certain major body functions like regulate blood pressure or form red blood cells. Minerals work very closely with vitamins, which is why we usually hear the phrase “vitamins and minerals,” and typically not just one or the other – we need one in order for the other to do its job.

Minerals are separated into two categories: macro and trace. Macrominerals are required by the body in large amounts for normal functioning, while trace, or micro, minerals are needed in smaller amounts daily.

Macrominerals	Trace (micro) minerals
▪ Calcium	▪ Iron
▪ Sodium	▪ Iodine
▪ Phosphorus	▪ Zinc
▪ Potassium	▪ Cobalt
▪ Magnesium	▪ Manganese
▪ Chloride	▪ Copper
▪ Sulfur	▪ Fluoride
	▪ Selenium

Remember to consult with a professional to determine whether you need a supplement. Too much or too little of any of the minerals listed above can cause serious harm to the body. If you would like to know more about the signs and symptoms of deficiency (not enough) or toxicity (too much), contact me! I’d be happy to go over this with you in detail.