Introduction to Minerals
MINERALS are inorganic compounds, with some being essential to health. Among the 160 or so known minerals of the world, 134 have been found in China, with Hunan province supplying the greater portion. Most minerals do not contribute anything to health. In fact, in most cases, they are deadly. However, there are about 17-20 (depending on the source) minerals deemed essential to human nutrition, with another nine recognized as "probably" being essential.
The function of minerals is classified as either structural or regulatory. Structural is compared to that of a house when a mineral is an integral part of a tissue cell. Regulatory describes a mineral's function in controlling, for example, the maintenance of water and acid-base balance, muscle contractions, nerve impulses, and actions such as cofactors for enzyme systems necessary for all the functions of the body. Concerning enzyme action, for instance, about a dozen minerals help over eighty enzymes to function. Some enzymes are known to ally themselves to zinc, while others cannot function in energy production without magnesium, and still others require copper or iron.
In addition, we must not overlook the minerals placed in dozens of products and taken by millions of people, that ultimately adversely affect health and nutrition.
Minerals are generally classified as:
- Major or Macro Minerals are often referred to as essential minerals required in amounts of 100 mg or more per day. These are: calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and sulfur.
- Micro or Trace Minerals are usually required in amounts less than 100 mg per day. These are: chromium, cobalt, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc.
- Ultra Trace Minerals are those that are probably essential but are required only in minute amounts (less than 1 mg per day) and usually can be adequately supplied in the diet without added supplementation. These include: arsenic, boron, bromine, cadmium, lead, lithium, nickel, silicon, tin, vanadium.
