Functions of minerals

When reading about nutrition and health, minerals and trace elements are often mentioned. We respond by eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and perhaps a vitamin supplement. We never doubt the validity of needing these things with names from the periodic table, but have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly they do for us? Or for that matter, what are they and where do they naturally occur? Well, you can stop being awake at night, wondering about this !! Processed foods cannot provide the services listed below:

CALCIUM – Critical to many biological functions, including nerve transmission, fat and protein digestion, muscle contraction, healthy teeth and bones, blood clotting, nerve functions, and more.

SODIUM: Muscle contraction, fluid balance, cell life and potential, and many other functions.

POTASSIUM: bone formation, fluid balance, blood pressure, muscle contraction and many more functions.

PHOSPHORUS: Bone formation, helps in the breakdown of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.

MAGNESIUM: Muscle contraction, nerve transmission, calcium metabolism, enzyme cofactor – ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR ALL KNOWN FORMS OF LIFE.

BORON – Calcium metabolism – An inadequate level of boron is also suspected of negatively influencing the body’s absorption of magnesium and calcium, possibly resulting in loss of bone density and elevated blood pressure.

CHLORINE: Digestion, blood pressure.

COBALT: Essential for the formation of vitamin B12, fatty acid metabolism and hemoglobin synthesis.

SULFUR: Protien synthesis, collagen crosslinking and ligament structure.

COPPER: Immune system, strength of the arteries, helps to form hemoglobin from iron and helps metabolize vitamin C and the oxidation of fatty acids.

CHROME: Insulin action, cardiovascular health, glucose tolerance factor.

IRON: Blood formation, immune function.

SELENIUM: Immune stimulant, certain brain functions, acts as an antioxidant. NICKEL: Immune regulation, brain development and DNA synthesis.

IODINE: Thyroid functions, helps in maintaining the immune system.

MOLYBDEMO: Enzymatic action.

SILICON: Enzymatic action, connective tissue.

TIN: enzymatic action

MANGANESE: Bone growth and development, fat and energy metabolism, reproductive systems.

ZINC: Enzyme reactions, reproductive health, growth and development, immune functions.