Important Types of Minerals Needed for Good Health
Good nutrition is key to sustaining a healthy mind and body; one important part of your balanced diet should include minerals. Minerals are essential for keeping us in physical and emotional balance, as they help deliver vital nutrients to different body parts.
Did you know that at least two billion people worldwide are deficient in key vitamins and minerals? This is worrisome.
In this article, we'll look at the role of minerals in our bodies and what types of minerals are needed for good health, from calcium and phosphorus that help build strong bones to sodium which regulates fluid levels in our bodies.
Keep reading if you want more detailed information about minerals as part of learning how to be healthier in today's modern world.
What Are Minerals?
Minerals are essential for the human body to function properly. They are inorganic, naturally occurring substances with a definite chemical composition and an orderly internal structure. We can find them in foods and also in the environment around us.
They help our bodies:
- Build bones
- Make hormones
- Regulate metabolism
- Regulate nerve transmission
Some of the most important minerals for humans include calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and zinc. Without these minerals, our bodies would be unable to perform many vital functions.
Types of Minerals
Minerals are naturally occurring substances essential for our body's proper functioning. However, there are different types of minerals. They are divided into two categories based on the amount needed in our body: macrominerals and trace minerals.
Macrominerals
Macrominerals are essential minerals that are required by the body in more significant amounts than trace minerals. These minerals include:
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Phosphorus
They play a crucial role in maintaining good health. This includes forming strong bones and teeth, regulating blood pressure, conducting nerve impulses, and maintaining the proper pH balance in the body fluids.
We usually get macrominerals from various food sources. A balanced diet should provide sufficient amounts. However, a deficiency of these minerals can lead to serious health problems, making it important to ensure an adequate daily intake.
Trace Minerals
Trace minerals are a mineral that we need in small amounts to maintain good health. They are essential for various physiological functions such as growth, development, metabolism, and immune function.
Trace minerals include:
- Chromium
- Copper
- Fluoride
- Iodine
- Iron
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Selenium
- Zinc
Even though we only need small amounts of these minerals, they are crucial in maintaining our health. For example, zinc plays a key role in supporting our immune system, and iron is needed to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in our blood.
Minerals' Role in Health
As mentioned above, minerals are essential for good health and play a crucial role in our bodies. They help with osmotic pressure maintenance, enzyme activation, muscular activity, energy metabolism, stabilization of nerve function, and more.
Common minerals essential to our health include calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, and selenium. While a balanced diet is the best way to get these minerals, some people may require supplements.
However, taking excessive amounts of minerals can be harmful, so it's important to consult a healthcare provider before taking mineral supplements. As with most health-related matters, it's all about balance.
Most Important Minerals
Our bodies require many essential minerals for optimal health and functioning, but some are particularly important. Here are a few of the top healthy minerals you should get in your regular diet.
Calcium
Calcium is an essential mineral for maintaining good health. It helps build and maintain strong bones, keeps our heart, muscles, and nerves functioning properly, and lets our blood clot.
We can get calcium from dairy products, green leafy vegetables, fortified foods, and supplements. You might suffer from weakened bones or osteoporosis without enough calcium in your diet.
Magnesium
Magnesium is vital in many bodily functions, such as strengthening bones, regulating blood pressure, and controlling diabetes.
Magnesium also helps to prevent migraines and can even improve physical performance during exercise. Additionally, it is important for proper functioning enzymes and other proteins in the body.
Sodium
Sodium is crucial for maintaining good health as it regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.
However, excess sodium intake can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Keeping sodium intake in balance is important for maintaining optimal health.
Potassium
This nutrient helps regulate blood pressure, supports healthy nerve and muscle function, and aids in processing carbohydrates. You'll find potassium in various foods, including fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Bananas are a popular source of potassium.
Where to Get Minerals
Finding reliable sources of minerals can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are numerous options available for obtaining these vital nutrients.
Food
Eating foods rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and iodine is important for overall health.
Nuts and seeds are particularly high in magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, and selenium. Meat, poultry, and fish contain minerals such as iron and zinc. Dairy products are also a great source of calcium.
Are you an adventurous eater? Seaweed is packed with minerals like calcium, chloride, and iodine.
Supplements
While natural food is the best source of minerals, some individuals may require additional support through supplements.
Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, selenium, iron, zinc, and chromium are all important minerals in supplement form.
Taking a daily multivitamin or mineral supplement is easy to ensure you're getting the right amount of minerals for optimal health. Just ensure the supplement comes with the right daily values you need.
Get Mineral Supplements
Do you need a mineral supplement to support a healthy diet? If so, consider NuMedica's multi-mineral formula having a unique blend of essential minerals crucial for optimal health, including calcium, magnesium, and zinc. This mineral supplement helps support your body's metabolic processes, supports bone health, and regulates nerve and muscle function, making it an essential addition to your daily health routine.
Jay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.
Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.
Related Content
We encourage you to take advantage of these FREE Wellness Resources on our website.
5 Common Signs of Vitamin Deficiency
You would think with the abundance of foods available to us that we would all be well nourished. Sadly, about 50% of the foods we eat are heavily processed and nutritionally void. How can you tell if you have a deficiency without taking a blood test? Let's take a look at some of the common signs of vitamin deficiency and how to introduce better nutrition into our lives.
7 Supplements to Boost Metabolism
We all know that a healthy diet and plenty of exercise are essential for staying healthy. Did you know that supplementing your diet with the right vitamins and minerals can help maintain a healthy weight? Some vitamins and minerals can even help boost our metabolism.
Adding Superfoods to Your Diet
We have all heard of the term superfoods. But what does it mean? What are these foods that supposedly have numerous health benefits? How much of these foods should we be eating, and are they beneficial?
How to Choose the Right Dietary Supplements for You
Vitamins and dietary supplements seem to be everywhere, from drug stores to online shops. Single nutrients, multivitamins, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and weight loss helpers are all considered dietary supplements. There's a lot to choose from, which can make the selection process quite confusing.
How to Incorporate Vitamin D, Zinc and Vitamin C Into Your Wellness Plan
Our bodies are made up of countless different interconnected parts that are constantly interacting with one another. For optimal health, there are a long list of minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that our bodies need to function properly. How can you ensure that you are getting everything you need to be a healthy and happy person? Let's take a look at how to incorporate Vitamin D, Zinc, and Vitamin C into your wellness plan.
Vitamin B Complex: The 8 Different B Vitamins
More than half of US adults say they rarely wake up feeling rested. This widespread feeling of tiredness impacts mood, productivity, and overall health.
Our modern lifestyles may be to blame.
Vitamins: Multi-Vitamin or Single Supplements? What You Need to Know
What exactly are vitamins? People believe that vitamins are good for them, and for that reason alone, many people take them. Some individuals supplement with individual vitamins while others pop a multi-vitamin. How does one know when they have received what they need from their vitamins? Can you take too many vitamins? Which ones? Learn about vitamins, the benefits they offer, and the best way to take them.
What You Should Know About Amino Acids
What are amino acids, how can we get them, and what do they do? Amino acids are the foundation of life; all plants and animals need them to be alive.
Keep reading to learn more about amino acids.
-
Blog Post
Did you know that at least two billion people worldwide are deficient in key vitamins and minerals? This is worrisome.
In this article, we'll look at the role of minerals in our bodies and what types of minerals are needed for good health, from calcium and phosphorus that help build strong bones to sodium which regulates fluid levels in our bodies.
Keep reading if you want more detailed information about minerals as part of learning how to be healthier in today's modern world.
What Are Minerals?
Minerals are essential for the human body to function properly. They are inorganic, naturally occurring substances with a definite chemical composition and an orderly internal structure. We can find them in foods and also in the environment around us.
They help our bodies:
- Build bones
- Make hormones
- Regulate metabolism
- Regulate nerve transmission
Some of the most important minerals for humans include calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and zinc. Without these minerals, our bodies would be unable to perform many vital functions.
Types of Minerals
Minerals are naturally occurring substances essential for our body's proper functioning. However, there are different types of minerals. They are divided into two categories based on the amount needed in our body: macrominerals and trace minerals.
Macrominerals
Macrominerals are essential minerals that are required by the body in more significant amounts than trace minerals. These minerals include:
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Phosphorus
They play a crucial role in maintaining good health. This includes forming strong bones and teeth, regulating blood pressure, conducting nerve impulses, and maintaining the proper pH balance in the body fluids.
We usually get macrominerals from various food sources. A balanced diet should provide sufficient amounts. However, a deficiency of these minerals can lead to serious health problems, making it important to ensure an adequate daily intake.
Trace Minerals
Trace minerals are a mineral that we need in small amounts to maintain good health. They are essential for various physiological functions such as growth, development, metabolism, and immune function.
Trace minerals include:
- Chromium
- Copper
- Fluoride
- Iodine
- Iron
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Selenium
- Zinc
Even though we only need small amounts of these minerals, they are crucial in maintaining our health. For example, zinc plays a key role in supporting our immune system, and iron is needed to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in our blood.
Minerals' Role in Health
As mentioned above, minerals are essential for good health and play a crucial role in our bodies. They help with osmotic pressure maintenance, enzyme activation, muscular activity, energy metabolism, stabilization of nerve function, and more.
Common minerals essential to our health include calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, and selenium. While a balanced diet is the best way to get these minerals, some people may require supplements.
However, taking excessive amounts of minerals can be harmful, so it's important to consult a healthcare provider before taking mineral supplements. As with most health-related matters, it's all about balance.
Most Important Minerals
Our bodies require many essential minerals for optimal health and functioning, but some are particularly important. Here are a few of the top healthy minerals you should get in your regular diet.
Calcium
Calcium is an essential mineral for maintaining good health. It helps build and maintain strong bones, keeps our heart, muscles, and nerves functioning properly, and lets our blood clot.
We can get calcium from dairy products, green leafy vegetables, fortified foods, and supplements. You might suffer from weakened bones or osteoporosis without enough calcium in your diet.
Magnesium
Magnesium is vital in many bodily functions, such as strengthening bones, regulating blood pressure, and controlling diabetes.
Magnesium also helps to prevent migraines and can even improve physical performance during exercise. Additionally, it is important for proper functioning enzymes and other proteins in the body.
Sodium
Sodium is crucial for maintaining good health as it regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.
However, excess sodium intake can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Keeping sodium intake in balance is important for maintaining optimal health.
Potassium
This nutrient helps regulate blood pressure, supports healthy nerve and muscle function, and aids in processing carbohydrates. You'll find potassium in various foods, including fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Bananas are a popular source of potassium.
Where to Get Minerals
Finding reliable sources of minerals can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are numerous options available for obtaining these vital nutrients.
Food
Eating foods rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and iodine is important for overall health.
Nuts and seeds are particularly high in magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, and selenium. Meat, poultry, and fish contain minerals such as iron and zinc. Dairy products are also a great source of calcium.
Are you an adventurous eater? Seaweed is packed with minerals like calcium, chloride, and iodine.
Supplements
While natural food is the best source of minerals, some individuals may require additional support through supplements.
Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, selenium, iron, zinc, and chromium are all important minerals in supplement form.
Taking a daily multivitamin or mineral supplement is easy to ensure you're getting the right amount of minerals for optimal health. Just ensure the supplement comes with the right daily values you need.
Get Mineral Supplements
Do you need a mineral supplement to support a healthy diet? If so, consider NuMedica's multi-mineral formula having a unique blend of essential minerals crucial for optimal health, including calcium, magnesium, and zinc. This mineral supplement helps support your body's metabolic processes, supports bone health, and regulates nerve and muscle function, making it an essential addition to your daily health routine.
AuthorJay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.
Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.
-
Related Content
Related Content
We encourage you to take advantage of these FREE Wellness Resources on our website.
5 Common Signs of Vitamin Deficiency
You would think with the abundance of foods available to us that we would all be well nourished. Sadly, about 50% of the foods we eat are heavily processed and nutritionally void. How can you tell if you have a deficiency without taking a blood test? Let's take a look at some of the common signs of vitamin deficiency and how to introduce better nutrition into our lives.
7 Supplements to Boost Metabolism
We all know that a healthy diet and plenty of exercise are essential for staying healthy. Did you know that supplementing your diet with the right vitamins and minerals can help maintain a healthy weight? Some vitamins and minerals can even help boost our metabolism.
Adding Superfoods to Your Diet
We have all heard of the term superfoods. But what does it mean? What are these foods that supposedly have numerous health benefits? How much of these foods should we be eating, and are they beneficial?
How to Choose the Right Dietary Supplements for You
Vitamins and dietary supplements seem to be everywhere, from drug stores to online shops. Single nutrients, multivitamins, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and weight loss helpers are all considered dietary supplements. There's a lot to choose from, which can make the selection process quite confusing.
How to Incorporate Vitamin D, Zinc and Vitamin C Into Your Wellness Plan
Our bodies are made up of countless different interconnected parts that are constantly interacting with one another. For optimal health, there are a long list of minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that our bodies need to function properly. How can you ensure that you are getting everything you need to be a healthy and happy person? Let's take a look at how to incorporate Vitamin D, Zinc, and Vitamin C into your wellness plan.
Vitamin B Complex: The 8 Different B Vitamins
More than half of US adults say they rarely wake up feeling rested. This widespread feeling of tiredness impacts mood, productivity, and overall health.
Our modern lifestyles may be to blame.
Vitamins: Multi-Vitamin or Single Supplements? What You Need to Know
What exactly are vitamins? People believe that vitamins are good for them, and for that reason alone, many people take them. Some individuals supplement with individual vitamins while others pop a multi-vitamin. How does one know when they have received what they need from their vitamins? Can you take too many vitamins? Which ones? Learn about vitamins, the benefits they offer, and the best way to take them.
What You Should Know About Amino Acids
What are amino acids, how can we get them, and what do they do? Amino acids are the foundation of life; all plants and animals need them to be alive.
Keep reading to learn more about amino acids.
The information, knowledge, and experience shared on this website is the opinion of SupplementRelief.com. This site and its content is intended to enhance your knowledge base as YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS in partnership with your qualified health professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any products referred to are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Comments are displayed in order of the last one posted so the most recent Comment is at the top and older Comments are towards the bottom. Replies within a Comment are displayed in reverse order with the oldest Reply at the top and the most recent one at the bottom.
Each post identifies who made the post and the date and time the post was made.
Mouse over the icons for tooltips that explain what the data means.
If you see this icon you can attach an Audio file to your post.
If you see this icon you can attach a Document file to your post.
If you see this icon you can attach an Image file to your post.
If you see this icon you can attach a Video file to your post.
You will see the Ban icon (Report Post as SPAM) immediately following the Timestamp of the post. Click this icon if you feel strongly that the content posted is not appropriate and should be reviewed by the Forum Moderator. You will be provided with a confirmation dialog to be sure you wish to submit this post for review. If submitted, the Forum Moderator will be notified to review the post and will determine what type of action to take.
Click in the upper right corner of this Help modal or anywhere on the web page outside of the modal to exit Help.
×
