Important minerals and their benefits
Minerals are essential to provide nutrition to human body and also to regulate cell function. Minerals are vital for our well being and good health. You can also add mineral supplements to your diet because food alone cannot fulfill all requirements of body. Mineral deficiency can give birth to plenty of health conditions and diseases.
Minerals in health industry
Following are some of the essential minerals for human body:
Calcium
Calcium is most abundant and most important mineral in human body. It is essential for maintenance and growth of the healthy bones and teeth formation.
Magnesium
It is considered as the 4th most abundant mineral in human body. It is important for various processes of human body such as formation of DNA, prevention of bad cholesterol, immune system and brain function. It also helps the working of potassium, vitamin B6 and boron.
Selenium
It is a significant micronutrient which is found in kidneys, pancreas, liver, and in males in seminal vesicles and testes.
Iron
Iron is important for red blood cells. Human body can absorb only needed amount of iron. It is good for muscle function, immunity, energy metabolism and enzyme reaction.
Chromium
Chromium is essential for benefiting cholesterol and coronary heart health, chemical processes of human body like regulating insulin, metabolism of carbohydrates and proper brain functioning.
Molybdenum
It is considered as trace element with numerous functions. It helps with osteoporosis and arthritis, involved with the enzyme reaction, blood sugar metabolism and has anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties.
Manganese
It keeps cartilage, kin and bones healthy and helps metabolize cholesterol. It is also involved with fat metabolism, insulin production, blood clotting, development and growth and more.
Boron
In is an important mineral which is required to absorb magnesium and calcium in body. It also makes contribution to immunity, brain function, hormone metabolism, cardiovascular health and many more.
Copper
It plays a crucial role in absorption and transfer of iron. It is used to build connective tissues and skin bones and protects against osteoporosis. Copper is also important for nervous system, cardiovascular system and immune system.
Vanadium
It is an important trace mineral which helps in growth of teeth and bones and also helps in converting food into energy.
Silicon
It supports calcium to maintain and grow strong bones. It is significant for the growth of fingernails, skin and hair. It also excretes excess aluminum from body by absorbing it.
Strontium
It is a trace mineral which stimulates new bone’s growth and also works with magnesium and calcium.
Tin
It is considered as ultra trace mineral which is involved in several biological processes. It is useful for our immune system. It is recorded that if a person has low level of tin then his or her LDL cholesterol level is high.
Nickel
It is an ultra trace mineral which is found in bloodstream. High level of nickel in body means high level of IQ in children. It is also important for fertility in women as studies shows that infertile women have low level of nickel.
Rubidium
It is used to produce super-oxide dismutase and major antioxidants. It is also essential for reproductive process.
This group of food is placed at the top level of food pyramid.
Japanese food pyramid
Japanese food pyramid is similar to original food pyramid but the difference is only that it deals with the Japanese food. All of the grains are included in the bottom section of pyramid. Then there is a section for vegetables with 3 to 5 servings and a section for fruits with 2 to 4 servings. Going up there is a section for dairy products and then there is a section for meat. The last section includes sweets, fats and oils which is only used as sparingly.