The word “mineral” comes from “mine” - so it means a substance that is extracted from the earth.
The minerals that interest us are elements, which are primary, simple substances that constitute inorganic and organic bodies in nature, as well as in the human body. Minerals are the main components of certain parts of our bodies, such as teeth and bones (calcium), and they play an important role in the electrolytes (the electric transmitters), which are important for the normal functioning of the muscle and nervous systems, as well as for the body’s balance or homeostasis.
All the minerals needed by and found in the body are contained in food, and are supplied, under normal circumstances, in the required form and quantity. Food must be the main supplier of the person’s minerals, but under certain circumstances, it is necessary to take mineral supplements, mainly because of the absence of their organic form in modern foodstuffs. In addition, supplements are taken when it is necessary to use a mineral as an aid to the body - whether as a solution to a problem that requires a large quantity of the particular mineral, or in order to compensate for a substantial loss of the mineral from the body.
In this book, I will relate to each mineral in alphabetical order: its role in the body, children’s and adults’ daily requirements, in which natural sources (foodstuffs) it can be found, food supplements, and toxicity.
It is important to know the links between minerals and vitamins, and these will be indicated during the course of the book, but it must be remembered that the absorption of minerals by the digestive system is linked both to the acid-base balance, and to the combinations of minerals and proteins that require the presence of a protein in the mineral absorption process, and the presence of the appropriate digestive acid.
Minerals that are taken as food supplements must be bound to an amino acid (or some other organic link) in order to enable the mineral to be absorbed effectively.
Minerals that are bound to amino acids are called chealated minerals, and they are absorbed ten times better than minerals that are not bound to amino acids. Another important point is that only 10% of the quantity of non-organic minerals (used in the drug industry) are absorbed, as opposed to natural minerals.
The minerals that interest us are elements, which are primary, simple substances that constitute inorganic and organic bodies in nature, as well as in the human body. Minerals are the main components of certain parts of our bodies, such as teeth and bones (calcium), and they play an important role in the electrolytes (the electric transmitters), which are important for the normal functioning of the muscle and nervous systems, as well as for the body’s balance or homeostasis.
All the minerals needed by and found in the body are contained in food, and are supplied, under normal circumstances, in the required form and quantity. Food must be the main supplier of the person’s minerals, but under certain circumstances, it is necessary to take mineral supplements, mainly because of the absence of their organic form in modern foodstuffs. In addition, supplements are taken when it is necessary to use a mineral as an aid to the body - whether as a solution to a problem that requires a large quantity of the particular mineral, or in order to compensate for a substantial loss of the mineral from the body.
In this book, I will relate to each mineral in alphabetical order: its role in the body, children’s and adults’ daily requirements, in which natural sources (foodstuffs) it can be found, food supplements, and toxicity.
It is important to know the links between minerals and vitamins, and these will be indicated during the course of the book, but it must be remembered that the absorption of minerals by the digestive system is linked both to the acid-base balance, and to the combinations of minerals and proteins that require the presence of a protein in the mineral absorption process, and the presence of the appropriate digestive acid.
Minerals that are taken as food supplements must be bound to an amino acid (or some other organic link) in order to enable the mineral to be absorbed effectively.
Minerals that are bound to amino acids are called chealated minerals, and they are absorbed ten times better than minerals that are not bound to amino acids. Another important point is that only 10% of the quantity of non-organic minerals (used in the drug industry) are absorbed, as opposed to natural minerals.
