Why are minerals so important?

If you eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods, you are likely getting a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. Most experts agree that taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement ensures that you are getting enough vitamins and minerals to maximize your health.

It is not usually recommended to take mineral supplements. Excessive amounts of individual minerals can cause kidney disease, hypertension, depression and weight gain.

The RDA recommends the following daily mineral allowance for adults:

MINERALS	FUNCTION	FOOD SOURCES
CALCIUM (mg)	Bones, teeth, blood clotting	Dairy products, broccoli, fortified foods
PHOSPHOROUS (mg)	Bones, teeth, acid balance, metabolism	Dairy products, meat, poultry, whole grain cereals
MAGNESIUM (mg)	Bones, teeth, muscle contraction, metabolism	Milk, meat, green leafy vegetables, whole grain cereals
IRON (mg)	Hemoglobin, oxygen transport, muscle myoglobin	Meat, fish, poultry, organ meats
ZINC (mg)	Taste, protein and nucleic acid synthesis, alcohol metabolism, sperm development, embryonic development, brain signaling, immune system, wound healing	Meat, oysters
IODINE (mg)	Energy metabolism	Iodized salt, shellfish, saltwater fish
SELENIUM (mg)	Antioxidant, oxygen metabolism	Meat, fish, shellfish, wheat germ

(Sources: The John Hopkins Family Health Book, Mayo Clinic Family Health Book)



About savvyHEALTH \| Privacy \| Feedback \| Home http://www.savvyHEALTH.com/ All contents copyright © 1999-2024 savvyHEALTH, Inc. All rights reserved. This internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.