Most of us take our bodies for granted, but if you stop to think about it the human body performs amazing feats every day. The millions of tiny cells in your body require essential nutrients to grow, develop and work together in perfect harmony. These essential nutrients, those that your body need, but cannot produce, include the inorganic substances found in foods known as minerals.
Minerals are inorganic substances, which occur naturally in non-living things such as water, rocks and soil. Plants absorb the minerals from the earth or from their habitat. Animals eat plants as well as other animals. Human receive minerals by eating plants and animals which consume plants, as well as from water.
Minerals are inorganic substances, which occur naturally in non-living things such as water, rocks and soil. Plants absorb the minerals from the earth or from their habitat. Animals eat plants as well as other animals. Human receive minerals by eating plants and animals which consume plants, as well as from water.
Different minerals are required in different amounts but they are all essential. Minerals are grouped depending on how much they are needed on a daily basis. The minerals that are needed in big amounts on a daily basis are known as macro-minerals or major minerals. The minerals that are needed less and in smaller amounts are known as micro-minerals or “trace elements.
Minerals are essential because our bodies cannot produce it. Minerals are basically the spark plugs of life, or keystones to our health. Minerals are the catalysts that keep our “battery” going and hold its ‘charge.’ Minerals compose about 4% of the human body. Good soil is 45% minerals, yet our soils today are quite lacking due to synthetic fertilizers, mono-cropping and more. Minerals are what remain as ash when plant or animal tissues are burned (approximately 5 pounds from a cremated body). They come from the earth and will eventually return to the earth.
Role of Minerals in the Body:
As important as vitamins are, they cannot be assimilated without the aid of minerals. Although the body can manufacture a few vitamins, it cannot manufacture a single mineral. All tissue and internal fluids contain varying quantities of minerals.
Take note: Micro-minerals (or Trace Minerals) are the ones that you need in small amounts. Macro Minerals are the opposite, needed in much larger quantities to sustain normal, healthy cell function.
The difference between “just enough” and “too much” of the Micro-minerals is often tiny. Generally, the food is a safe source of trace minerals. But if you take supplements it’s important to make sure you’re not exceeding safe levels.
Mineral use in the body: No mineral is used in isolation within the body. All minerals interact with other minerals, vitamins, enzymes and so on. It is overly simplistic to say that “iron builds rich blood” or “calcium makes strong bones.” For instance, copper must also be present for the iron to be used in blood-building. Likewise, a certain amount of phosphorus must also be present along with the calcium to build bones. However, it is also a fact that certain minerals are utilized by the body as nutrients for specific organs more so than other organs. Also, the body uses certain minerals in performing certain body functions. Nonetheless, in studying an individual mineral, keep in mind that it is only a part of a whole complex process.
The effect of a mineral deficiency: A mineral deficiency rarely exists in a vacuum and is seldom the only cause for a condition exhibited by the body. Often, a mineral deficiency occurs even when there is an abundance of the needed mineral in the diet, but the body cannot digest nor assimilate the mineral. Mineral deficiencies are discussed at length later in this lesson.
The recommended allowance of a mineral: This can be almost meaningless. Mineral requirements depend upon individual constitution, climate, type of work, personality, age, sex, body weight, level of health and hundreds of other factors. There can never be one recommended allowance of a mineral that applies to everyone. All given Recommended Allowances may vary considerably and they should not be considered as “law.”
Food Sources of a mineral: Aztec Spirulina contains Macro-minerals and Micro-minerals (or Trace Minerals) absorbed from its growth into chelated, easily absorbed forms and are very safe to consume. What is especially interesting about Aztec Spirulina’s mineral content is its richness in Iron, Magnesium, Calcium and Phosphorus.
Role of Minerals in the Body:
- Minerals act as co-factors for enzyme reactions. Enzymes don’t work without minerals. All cells require enzymes to work & function. They give us our vitality.
- They maintain the pH balance within the body.
- Minerals actually facilitate the transfer of nutrients across cell membranes.
- They maintain proper nerve conduction.
- Minerals help to contract and relax muscles.
- They help to regulate our body’s tissue growth.
- Minerals provide structural and functional support for the body.
As important as vitamins are, they cannot be assimilated without the aid of minerals. Although the body can manufacture a few vitamins, it cannot manufacture a single mineral. All tissue and internal fluids contain varying quantities of minerals.
Take note: Micro-minerals (or Trace Minerals) are the ones that you need in small amounts. Macro Minerals are the opposite, needed in much larger quantities to sustain normal, healthy cell function.
The difference between “just enough” and “too much” of the Micro-minerals is often tiny. Generally, the food is a safe source of trace minerals. But if you take supplements it’s important to make sure you’re not exceeding safe levels.
Mineral use in the body: No mineral is used in isolation within the body. All minerals interact with other minerals, vitamins, enzymes and so on. It is overly simplistic to say that “iron builds rich blood” or “calcium makes strong bones.” For instance, copper must also be present for the iron to be used in blood-building. Likewise, a certain amount of phosphorus must also be present along with the calcium to build bones. However, it is also a fact that certain minerals are utilized by the body as nutrients for specific organs more so than other organs. Also, the body uses certain minerals in performing certain body functions. Nonetheless, in studying an individual mineral, keep in mind that it is only a part of a whole complex process.
The effect of a mineral deficiency: A mineral deficiency rarely exists in a vacuum and is seldom the only cause for a condition exhibited by the body. Often, a mineral deficiency occurs even when there is an abundance of the needed mineral in the diet, but the body cannot digest nor assimilate the mineral. Mineral deficiencies are discussed at length later in this lesson.
The recommended allowance of a mineral: This can be almost meaningless. Mineral requirements depend upon individual constitution, climate, type of work, personality, age, sex, body weight, level of health and hundreds of other factors. There can never be one recommended allowance of a mineral that applies to everyone. All given Recommended Allowances may vary considerably and they should not be considered as “law.”
Food Sources of a mineral: Aztec Spirulina contains Macro-minerals and Micro-minerals (or Trace Minerals) absorbed from its growth into chelated, easily absorbed forms and are very safe to consume. What is especially interesting about Aztec Spirulina’s mineral content is its richness in Iron, Magnesium, Calcium and Phosphorus.