Water and Minerals

Minerals and Water

Bethany Wilhelm

SCI/220

November 14, 2016

Cynthia Clausen

Minerals and Water

Unlike vitamins, which are organic compounds, minerals are inorganic substances that are within soil and rocks. These minerals are essential to the body, which needs these nutrients to perform daily functions (Létourneau-Montminy, 2014). The body receives these minerals through the ingestion of plants, as well as absorbs them through the eating of meats, as these animals eat plants and the body gets the minerals through that process. Minerals and water are vital to the body, and are required for the body to perform its roles and function properly. These minerals, as well as water, need to be replenished daily.

The Minerals

There are many various kinds of minerals, and they are split into categories based upon the specific amounts that the body needs. “Major minerals are those that the body needs more than 100mg of, per day. These minerals include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and chloride” (Létourneau-Montminy, 2014). The minor minerals, those that are trace elements, and are needed in amounts of less than 100mgs a day, are chromium, copper, iodine, iron, fluoride, manganese, selenium, and zinc (Létourneau-Montminy, 2014).

However, it is important to note that while there are two categories, one for a higher amount needed, and one for a lower amount needed, that both categories are still equally important to the overall health of the body. Minor minerals are not less vital to the body than major minerals. Deficiency of minerals depends primarily upon the natural availability of that specific mineral in foods. For example, if a mineral is readily available in multiple foods, it is unlikely that the body would face deficiency issues from that mineral. This example can be see with the minerals chromium, copper, phosphorus, and manganese. Since these minerals are found in a rather wide variety of foods, deficiency of these minerals is very uncommon (Létourneau-Montminy, 2014). On the contrary, if you look at the mineral sodium, it is one mineral that people on average should reduce their intake of in their daily diet.  

To look more in depth at two major minerals, calcium and magnesium, both are essential to the body, but for two very different reasons. Calcium is key to the health and strength of bones and teeth, and has an active role in keeping the body’s immune system functioning at full strength as well (Camaschella, 2015). Lacking in calcium is a contributing factor as well as a defining feature of osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become brittle. There are numerous sources of calcium, the most commonly known of them being dairy based, such as milk, cheese, or yogurt. But those are not the only sources. You can also get calcium from non-dairy sources, such as almonds, hazelnuts, dried apricots, broccoli, watercress, and spinach. Even some seafood offers amounts of calcium. With magnesium, your body needs it to for the regulation of potassium and sodium levels in the body, which are involved in controlling the body’s blood pressure (Camaschella, 2015). Magnesium is also used in the body to release energy, building strong muscles, the regulation of body temperature, helping the body absorb and breakdown other minerals and vitamins, and more (Camaschella, 2015). The sources of magnesium come in a wide range, such as bananas, raisins, brown rice, lean meats, zucchini, green leafy vegetables, sweet corn, and more (Camaschella, 2015).