Daily Medical Advices

Minerals are inorganic micronutrients the body needs in very small quantities or doses, among all minerals add a few grams but are as important as vitamins, and without them our bodies could not carry out the comprehensive metabolic functions we perform daily, the hormone synthesis or processing of the tissue.

Constitute only five percent of body mass and of the 28 existing only a dozen is considered essential, according to their amount or dose required divided into two groups:

* The macro: whose needs exceed 100 mg daily calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur and phosphorus. The functions of these minerals are linked to bone formation, regulation of body fluids and digestive secretions.

* The micro or trace elements: whose needs are less than 100 mg daily. Within this group of minerals, the most important are iron, zinc, selenium, copper, iodine, manganese and chromium. Its functions are related to biochemical reactions, we protect against disease, help reduce fatigue and achieve better mental and physical condition.Mineral deficiency may be the beginning of a myriad of diseases, eg lack of calcium during the growth stage may result in osteoporosis in adulthood, as well as zinc to immune system problems and lack of magnesium and selenium can lead to heart disease.

Balancing dietary minerals

In our diet, it is important to respect the proportion of each mineral in the body because they work interdependently, this means that high doses or concentrations of some may inhibit the absorption of other because they compete with each other. Thus potassium intake should be four to seven times higher than that of sodium for transport into cells is optimal.

credit to: María Suriguez