List of minerals

 Minerals are a vitally important set of nutrients, essential for some basic functions of the human body. Most minerals are required by the body in small quantities, especially when compared to the total amount of food being consumed during the day or in particular meals. The ignorance of this vital food group from the diet is an unintelligent practice as it will lead to many different health problems over a period of time. By using a list of minerals, one can immediately understand the usefulness of these nutrients for the human body. 

The list of minerals is divided into macro minerals and trace minerals. Macro minerals are required in fairly significant quantities whereas micro or trace minerals may only be required in microscopic quantities.

Chloride is one of the important minerals for the human body. The best sources for chloride are the various forms of salt that are added as seasoning to food. Sodium is a component of salt as well and can also be supplied to the body through the consumption of pork products, milk, butter and green beans.

Calcium is one of the most basic minerals required by the body. The bones of the skeleton are made up of calcium. The system of bones in the human body is the foundation on which organs tissues and muscles are mounted. The bones also provide rigidity to the body. This is especially important when lifting weights or when exerting great pressure on the limbs or other parts of the body. The density of the bone tissue will be affected by a lack of calcium in the system. This may lead to the bones being brittle and easily broken. Vitamin D is important as it is used to collect calcium from the blood and maintain its level. There are many dietary sources for calcium. These include spinach, oranges, green beans, cabbage and leafy green vegetables.

There are many other minerals that are needed in the human body in moderate quantities. These vitamins are sulfur, magnesium and phosphorous. Phosphorous is available in many milk products and in red meats. Magnesium is sourced from green vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Sulfur is found in foods such as red meat, fish, garlic, onions, cabbage and cauliflower. 

Other minerals required by the human body are needed in much smaller quantities, often in microscopic quantities. These minerals may be classified as trace minerals as their presence in the diet of an individual is extremely small when compared to the actual quantity of the food. The most commonly recognized trace mineral is iron. Iron is found in red meat, kidney beans, spinach and soybeans. Iron plays a vital role in the development of hemoglobin. This substance is used to transport oxygen through the blood to various parts of the body. Anemia is a common condition that is caused by iron deficiency. People suffering from this condition will experience tiredness and pale skin. It is therefore wise to consume foods that contain iron as these will help to avoid the symptoms of iron deficiency. 

There are some other trace minerals needed by the human body. These include chromium, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine, selenium and molybdenum. The above list of minerals and foods that contain these minerals is not exhaustive. There may be other foods that also contain vital vitamins and minerals.

Many people do not consume the required quantities of vitamins and minerals even though these quantities are extremely small. These nutrients are needed in very small quantities when compared to other nutrition groups such as vitamins and minerals. However, it is important to note that both vitamins and minerals are included in a healthy diet. These vitamins and minerals play important roles in some of the vital body processes. One just needs to look at the skeletal system to understand the important of minerals. The entire skeletal structure of the body is made up of calcium and other components. The skeleton is the frame on which the body tissues and organs are supported. The strength of the bones in the human body helps with the lifting of great weights. The bones also form strong handles for lever actions which help to raise heavy objects that would otherwise not be carried by humans. 

While examining the list of minerals one can see that all of them are important for various vital body functions. It should be noted that the use list of minerals, while essential for the body, must be present in some sort of moderation. Moderate quantities of these minerals are essential for good health. An excess supply of minerals may cause conditions akin to poisoning of the system. 

Parents need to refer to a list of vitamins and minerals and ensure that their children are being fed all the important nutrients present on this list of vitamins and minerals. Children need vitamins and minerals because their growth rates depend on the adequate supply of such substances. Parents who ignore the requirements of the list of vitamins and minerals are putting their kids at risk of developing various conditions that could hamper their health throughout their lives. The right amount of vitamins and minerals can be understood during a visit to a doctor who will be able to give the absolute correct idea of what is required for the child. It is often difficult to feed children with the entire list of vitamins and minerals needed for their systems. Children are often difficult to handle when it comes to the consumption of greens. Most children hate to consume these healthy foods. Thus, under supervision of a doctor, parents may need to provide vitamin and mineral supplements to their children, often in the form of syrups which are fed once daily.