Minerals

Minerals

What Are Minerals

Minerals are natural inorganic elements needed by the body for strong bones, teeth and other support structures. Minerals also play key roles as coenzymes, in stabilizing genetic material, maintaining normal body acid/base balance, in nerve activity and muscle contraction. The importance of minerals in normal nutrition cannot be overstated. Like vitamins, minerals do not supply calories. Unlike vitamins, they are not sensitive to light and heat. However, they are leeched out of foods into the cooking water. Therefore, long periods of soaking and boiling foods, such as fruits and vegetables, may result in excessive loss of minerals. Like vitamins, minerals are also being studied for their role in maintaining good health.

Perhaps the area that has received the most attention is the relationship of mineral status to the maintenance of strong, healthy bones at all life stages. Among the elderly, evidence shows that calcium supplementation can reduce the risk of bone fracture due to osteoporosis by as much as 32% to 43%. Calcium is also important for other body functions. For example, it plays a role in helping your heart to beat and, because it is stored in the bones, calcium provides the structure for your body’s frame. Even more intriguing is the influence of other minerals on bone health. Researchers evaluated the bone density in the forearm of menopausal women with osteoporosis and menopausal women without osteoporosis. They reported that those with osteoporosis had lower levels of phosphorus and magnesium in their bones when compared to those without osteoporosis. Other minerals that influence bone health but need to be researched further include copper, zinc, manganese and boron.