Facts about Mineral- Everything You Need to Know

Facts about Mineral - Everything You Need to Know

Definition-
It is a chemical element which is required as the essential nutrient by living organisms to perform necessary functions of life. These minerals are found in earth and cannot be synthesized in the body.

Types-
Minerals are generally of two types.

• Macro Minerals- Generally there are five types of major/Macro minerals which are very important for the human body. Those are Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium and Phosphorous.
• Micro Minerals- Rest of the minerals which are present and needed in human body are known as trace elements or Micro minerals. The Trace Elements, which includes Iron, Copper, Zinc, Cobalt, Selenium, Molybdenum and Iodine, have a particular biochemical function in human body.  

Macro Minerals-
Sodium-
 Source-Table Salt, Sea Vegetables, Spinach, Milk
 Function- Maintain proper fluid balance, nerve transmission and muscle contraction
 Deficiency- Improper muscle contraction,loss of Na+ in urine, dehydration, nervous depression

Calcium-
 Source- Milk, Dairy Products, Cereals, meat, fish, vegetables, egg
 Function- Strengthen Bones and teeth, important role in blood clotting, nerve functioning
 Deficiency- Ricket, Tetanus, Defective Bone

Phosphorous-
 Source- Milk, Cereals, dairy foods, eggs, meat, fish
 Function- Make bones strong, maintains acid base balance
 Deficiency- Weak bones and teeth, Poor growth of body

Potassium-
 Source- Sweet potato, Dairy Products, tomato, lentils
 Function- Maintains Osmotic Balance, Muscle Contraction
 Deficiency- Nervous Disorder, Paralysis

Magnesium-
 Source- Spinach, Avocado, Legumes
 Function- Make proteins, found in bones, Co-factor for enzymes
 Deficiency- Vascular and Heart disorders, muscle coordination loss

Micro Minerals-
Iron-
 Source- Meat, Seafood, Nuts
 Function- Forms Hemoglobin, Needed for energy Metabolism
 Deficiency- Skin Problem, Anemia

Copper-
 Source- Liver, Nuts, Seafood
 Function- Part of Enzymes, Needed for Iron Metabolism
 Deficiency- Anemia

Zinc-
 Source- Cheese, Beat
 Function- Helps in Vitamin A Metabolism, helps in CO2 transport
 Deficiency- Reduced Respiration

Iodine-
 Source- Eggs, sea vegetables and fish
 Function- Metabolism of cells
 Deficiency- Goiter, Cretinism

Manganese-
 Source- Plant foods
 Function- Part of essential enzymes
 Deficiency- Bone malformation, Reduced growth