Human body and minerals

   

In order to work properly, human body needs various minerals to perform the bodily functions. Despite their small amount, they are essential and irreplaceable for the body. Minerals represent approximately 4% of the body mass. Out of these minerals, 83% are in bones. Minerals can be classified through various criteria. The criteria used the most often, is the amount of minerals needed for a human body to function optimally. Elements needed in larger amounts, are called macro-elements.

Elements needed in amount less than 100 mg per 1 kg of body mass are called microelements.

Macro-elements are represented by sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, chlorine and sulphur. Microelements represent iron, copper, zinc, manganese, silicon and lithium. Ultra-microelements are iodine, fluorine, selenium, chromium, vanadium, boron, cobalt and molybdenum.

 

Minerals can also be classified through their function in the human body, recognizing three groups:
1. Essential
2. Useful (so called bio-geneous)
3. Harmful (toxic)

In general, essential and useful minerals perform various important activities in the body: They cause metabolism, maintain osmotic pressure, regulate stomach acidity, moreover, they are part of the body’s building blocks and enzyme structures.

Many factors influence the presence of minerals in organisms. A very important factor is the type and amount of food consumed. The quality of food depends on its preparation and the way of cultivating the crop (pollution of environment, soil rich/poor on nutrients, application of pesticides and fertilizers, etc.). Digestion and absorption of minerals depends also on the content of fibre in food. The amount of a specific mineral in the body can be optimal, insufficient or surplus.

Most of the minerals necessary for the human body are microelements. The few important macro-elements are potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

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