Minerals

• Minerals are naturally occuring, mostly inorganic solid substances that come from the earth.
• Inorganic meaning not from living matter
• A mineral is not a rock, though it is found in dirt, rocks and water
• Minerals are usually stored in bones, cells, tissue and in muscles
• Minerals are chemical substances that contain one or more elements and are usually solid crystals. They have an ordered crystalline structure; this means the atoms are arranged in a repetetive ordered pattern
• Minerals always hold onto their chemical structure despite the chemical reactions they undergo. This means they are not destroyed by the body’s digestive process or food preparation and always retain their individual identity
• Minerals that are not stored in body tissues are usually excreted out in waste so excess amounts do not accumulate to dangerous levels
• Minerals from the soil and water can easily find their way into the body through food and fluids that are consumed
• Minerals are usually needed in smaller quantities than vitamins

• Click for »» Calcium
• Click for »» Chloride
• Click for »» Magnesium
• Click for »» Phosphorous
• Click for »» Potassium

Calcium

• Calcium is a mineral and is needed for strong healthy bones and teeth
• There is more calcium within the body than any other mineral
• Calcium is like the cement or glue that holds bone cells together: almost all of it is stored in the bones. The remainder is found within blood, the muscle, and the fluid between cells
• Calciun helps to release hormones and enzymes that affect almost every function in the human body. It is an essential component for the clotting process and regulating the ph balance in the blood
• The ph of blood is very critical for sustaining life and controls processes such as breathing and being able to transport oxygen in the blood cells
• Calcium is also necessary for muscles to be able to move. It regulates muscle contraction including heartbeat, and is required by nerves to transmit electrical signals between the brain and all body parts.
• Calcium is essential for the transmittion of information between nerve fibers otherwise they don't work properly, if levels get too high or low certain organs will fail to function
• The body has a great system for keeping the right amount of calcium in the blood and tissues
• The intestines will absorb less calcium if there is enough in the blood or too much has entered the body.
• If there is not enough calcium in the diet it is borrowed from the bones, although if this is not replaced, over time too much will have been taken from the bones and brittle bones can occur
• Calcium interacts with other important nutrients to enable your body to function efficiently
• vitamin D is required by the body to be able to absorb calcium efficiently

Some natural foods that contain calcium:

• broccoli, chinese cabbage, Kale, mustard greens, okra, poppy, celery, chia and sesame seeds, almonds, beans and lentils, i.e. chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, peanuts, soybeans

Chloride

One of the key tasks of major minerals is to maintain the proper balance of water in the body

Chloride, or more specificaly chloride ions is one of the substances needed to sustain life, along with sodium (ions) and potassium

These substances are essential for the body for maintaining fluid levels in blood vessels

The body is not able to manufacture chloride (or sodium) by itself, so it must get it through food and salt is the common source for it.

Chloride helps the body maintain normal functioning of the cells, for nerve and muscle functioning and is an essential important component needed for electrolyte balance within the body

An electrolyte is an electrically charged mineral that maintains a balance within our cells, tissues and fluids within our bodies

Nerves transmit signals to each other via an electrical charge

Chloride is needed for the body to be able to conduct nerve transmissions.

If electrolytes get too low, the fluid cannot carry an electrical charge and muscles cannot contract.

Losing chloride when sweating causes problems with muscle functioning

Chloride is an essential component of digestive juices within the stomach acid and is therefore needed for metabolism, which is the process that turns food into energy for the body

Chloride maintains the blood's ph level

Chloride is needed for proper kidney function, which in turn regulatse the amount of chloride in the blood

Some natural foods that contain chloride:

sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, seaweed, tomatoes, lettuce, celery, olives, rye

Magnesium

• Magnesium is an essential mineral needed for almost every cell and organ in the body
• Is required for over 300 biochemical reactions without which the body would slowly deteriorate
• 50% of magnesium is found in the bones, the other half is mainly inside the cells of tissues and organs. The other 1% is found in the blood
• Magnesium is needed for proper maintenance and growth of bones and the formation of teeth
• It is also essential for the proper functioning of nerves, muscles, heart, and kidneys.
• Magnesium is an electrolyte.
• An electrolyte is an electrically charged mineral that maintains a balance within our cells, tissues and fluids within our bodies. Nerves transmit signals to each other via an electrical charge
• Magnesium supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong and helps regulate blood sugar level
• Magnesium is essential in activating enzymes which contribute to energy production
• These energy making enzymes in the body cannot be activated without magnesium
• Other nutrients like calcium, copper zinc, potassium and vitamin D are regulated by magnesium
• Magnesium helps in the absorption of calcium by the body and helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function and keeps the heart rhythm steady

Some natural foods that contain magnesium:

• whole grains, nuts, leafy green vegetables, figs, avacado, bananas, raspberries, nuts and seeds, legumes, (e.g. black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans), peas, broccoli, asparagus, almonds, dark chocolate

Phosphorous

• Phosphorous is the second most abundant mineral in the body
• It is needed by the body for making protein which is to be used in the growth, maintenance and repair of cells and tissues.
• Phosphorous plays a role in the body's energy stores by helping to make ATP and helps in how the body uses carbohydrates and fat
• Phosphorous works alongside calcium to maintain and create strong bones and teeth. It is esssential for the formation of teeth and bones which contain the greatest percentage by keeping the keeping the gums and enamel strong and healthy. The rest is found throughout the body in cells and tissues
• Phosphorous is essential for growth, maintenance and repair of all the tissues and cells in the body. The kidneys help in removing exess phosphorous from the blood
• Phosphorous helps the body manage energy properly. It does this by making sure the nutrients that are entering are used properly & efficiently
• Phosphorous helps to eliminate waste and fluids much more efficiently and is essential in the production of proteins
• It regulates heartbeat, the body absorbs less phosphorus when calcium levels are too high
• Phosphorous is involved in the production of DNA and RNA
• DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid
• DNA is the main component of chromosomes and carries genetic information
• RNA stands for ribonucleic acid,
• RNA is a nucleic acid present in all living cells.
• The main function of nucleic acid is to store and transfer genetic information, with a view in helping to make new proteins
• The two main nucleic acids are DNA and RNA
• RNA's primary role is to act as a messenger
• It carries instructions from DNA for controlling the production of proteins
• Phosphorous helps nerves conduct electricity
• It encourages the digestion of B2 and B3 to maximise their efficiency
• Phosphorous also helps regulate hormones

Some natural foods that contain phosphorous:

• brazil nuts, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, amaranth, beans & lentils

Potassium

• Is the the third most abundant mineral in the body and is present in all cells of the body
• Its primary function is to maintain mineral and water balance throughout the body
• Potassium is an electrolyete. An electrolyte is a substance that conducts electricity
• An electrolyte is an electrically charged mineral that maintains a balance within our cells, tissues and fluids within our bodies. Nerves transmit signals to each other via an electrical charge
• Potassium is essential for the proper functioning of muscles and nerves within the body
• Potassium works alongside sodium for fluid regulation within the body
• The amount of potassium is dependent on the amount of sodium and magnesium
• Too much sodium can increase the amount of potassium
• Potassium excretes sodium from the body
• Too much sodium in the body leads to high blood pressure therefore making it an effective preventative of heart disease and high blood pressure
• Potassium reduces muscle pain after exercise and is involved in muscle contraction (helping muscles move)
• Potassium levels are controlled by the kidneys and is essential for all cells, tissues and organ function. Potassium also helps glucose to be converted into glycogen which is a storable form of energy

Some natural foods that contain potassium:

• potato, sweet potato, spinach, cabbage, sprouts, almonds, mushrooms, macadamia nuts, banana, avacado, watermelon, beets, black beans, white beans, butternut squash, swiss chard, coconut water, dried apricots