What Are Minerals?
There are two types of minerals:
- Macrominerals – you need larger quantities of these minerals for your body to function optimally. They include; calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulphur and chloride.
- Trace minerals – you only need small amounts of these; iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, fluoride, cobalt and selenium.
Most people get the majority of their minerals through the food and drink they consume. However sometimes it is necessary to supplement you diet with additional minerals. Your body uses minerals for many different processes in the body, such as; replacing bone and tissue cells, making/converting hormones/making enzymes and much more.
Different health conditions require more or less of certain minerals which is why it is always important to consult a medical professional before adding any mineral supplements to your diet. The best way to make sure your body is receiving the required minerals it needs it through eating a diet that contains these vitamins.
Here are some foods you can incorporate into your diet for the macronutrients needed for optimal health:
Calcium – spinach, oatmeal, white beans, sardines, salmon, almonds.
Phosphorus – red meat, poultry, fish, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, lentils.
Magnesium – pumpkin, spinach, beans, brazil nut, almonds.
Sodium – anchovies, olives, pickles, apples, bananas, carrots, beets, celery.
Potassium – potatoes, beans, bananas, peaches, halibut, cod, tomatoes.
Sulphur – organ meats, beef, turkey, scallops, mussels, kidney beans, black beans.
Chloride – seaweed, tomatoes, celery, meat, eggs.
I will be going into more specific details about these minerals and how your body obtains the minerals in future blog posts.
Tiffany x