Minerals in the quality of life

Minerals are one of the most important nutrient groups for human health. When interacting with our organism, they react in favor of a wide range of biological functions that take place inside our body. The lack or deficit of minerals is related to the appearance of many diseases that can be lethal for our organism. Minerals have some distinctive characteristics, one of them is that they cannot be synthesized by our body, this makes us dependent on a constant supply of them to meet the daily requirements demanded by our body.

The best way to acquire this nutrient is through an adequate intake of balanced and nutritionally rich food. However, minerals can also be supplied through various nutritional supplements if necessary. It is important that we learn to distinguish between the minerals known as macrominerals and those known as microminerals, so that we know how to adjust the amounts we consume of this type of nutrient, according to the characteristics of each of these groups.

To further understand the important role that these nutrients have for our health, we will be addressing some of the basic functions they perform and the contributions and benefits attributed to their consumption.

General functions of minerals

Addressing the functions performed by minerals in our organism requires, to a certain extent, that we focus on the properties of some of them. Each mineral fulfills a determined function, that is why we will be reviewing this point from a general vision, highlighting some of the integral contributions of this nutrient for the benefit of our health.

Minerals act in practically all systems and structures of the human body. As an example we have minerals such as Calcium or Magnesium, which actively participate in the strengthening of our bones and teeth. Other minerals such as Sodium, Chlorine, Potassium and Phosphorus, participate in the control and stabilization of various extracellular and intracellular organic fluids.

To refer to other general functions attributed to minerals, we have that:

• They collaborate in obtaining energy through the different metabolic processes that take place in our organism.

• They participate in the strengthening of our immune system, helping us to face and prevent the onset of various diseases.

• They improve the digestive processes of our body, balancing the acids in our stomach.

• They are an essential nutrient for growth and development processes.

Macrominerals and microminerals

The classifications of macrominerals and microminerals allude to the two groups into which essential minerals are divided. It is important to understand that this division does not respond to the level of importance of each group, but to the quantities of these nutrients that our organism needs to work in a healthy way. By consuming a properly balanced diet rich in these nutrients, we can easily access the amounts we need to meet our daily requirements.

Macro minerals are the group of minerals that are needed in greater quantities. They are composed of Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Phosphorus, Calcium, Sulfur, Magnesium.

The microminerals or trace elements, as they are also known, are the group of essential minerals that are not necessary in large quantities, so their consumption is more moderate than that of the microminerals. These are composed of: Zinc, Iron, Selenium, Iodine, Manganese, Copper, Flouride, Molybdenum and Chromium. Other very necessary ones are also included, in small quantities, such as nickel, cobalt, silicon and vanadium.