Dietary minerals

Dietary Minerals are nutrients needed by the body in small amounts to help it function properly and stay strong. Most minerals are widely distributed in foods.

[edit] Food Sources

The dietary minerals needed for our body come from the following sources:

• Dairy products and green leafy vegetables
• Nuts, soy beans, and cocoa
• Table salt, milk and spinach
• Legumes, whole grains, and bananas
• Red meat, leafy vegetables

[edit] List of Major Dietary Minerals

1. Calcium - helps prevent osteoporosis and builds strong bones and teeth.
2. Iron - increase quality of blood and resistance to stress and disease.
3. Magnesium - Aids in bone growth and in function of nerves and muscles. Strengthens tooth enamel.
4. Phosphorus - essential for normal heart and kidney functioning.
5. Potassium - needed to regulate water balance, levels of acidity and blood pressure.
6. Selenium - help build up white blood cells, enhancing the body's ability to fight illness and infection.
7. Sodium - regulate blood pressure, as well as the volume of the blood itself, it also guards against dangerous blood clotting in the blood vessels.
8. Zinc - maintains normal taste and sense of smell, aids in wound healing, promotes normal fetal growth and boosts immunity

[edit] Related Topics

• Vitamins
• Food Pyramid