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Essential Dietary Minerals Nutrition in Food

Together with vitamins, minerals nutrition play an important part in the functionalities of our body.

Dietary minerals are non-living substance that are vital for our body to function.

Below are some of the major dietary minerals which are important for our body.

In general, functions of dietary minerals are:

1. as constituents of bones and teeth
2. as salts regulating body fluids
3. as components of enzymes and hormones

Calcium : For strong bones and teeth and prevent osteoporosis. Needed for functionality of nervous system and muscles.

Found in cheese, white chocolate and diary products.

Iron : Needed to produce haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in red blood cells.

Found in liver, eggs, red meat and fish.

Magnesium : Maintain healthy hearts and bones. Work together with calcium.

Found in cocoa and nuts.

Phosphorus : Required for bone and teeth formation. Important element in blood clotting.

Found in milk, cheese, meat and fish

Potassium : Maintain muscle and nerve tissue

Selenium : Antioxidant purposes. Improves immune system. Prevents aging.

Found in seafood, garlic and whole grain flour

Sodium : Essential in brain and nervous system functions. Maintain body fluid in human.

 Found in table salt and almost all processed food contain sodium. 

Chromium : Maintain body sugar levels.

Found in cereals, cheese and food.

Copper : Keeps the bone healthy and is required for functionality of enzymes in body.

Found in oysters, liver and peas.

Sulphur : Remove toxic in body

Found in beef and meats.

Zinc : Needed for functionality of over 200 enzymes in the body

Found in egg yolk, liver and red meat.

After reading this article - Essential Dietary Minerals Nutrition in Food, you will have a further understanding about basic functions of minerals nutrition.

 Remember, as with vitamins, dietary minerals are an important element of our food cycle and should be not be neglected.