Minerals contained in food are essential for body function. The term
mineral in general refers to a naturally occurring solid with a uniform chemical composition, and they are all over the earth and used in industry for all types of products. The body needs some of these to stay healthy and develop.
Your body uses minerals for things like:
- building bones
- transmitting signals through the nervous system
- making hormones
- maintain a normal heartbeat.
Minerals are classified into marcominerals and trace minerals depending on how much of them your body needs.
Macrominerals are needed in larger quantity and include:
calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium,
potassium, chloride, and sulfur.
Trace minerals are needed in very small quantity and include: copper,
iron, manganese, iodine,
zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.