Download Main Question

Main Question
Which minerals have a positive effect on the body?
Sub-Questions:




1.
Top 3 minerals
What do they do?
Why are they better?
Compare and contrast
Iron: You need iron to carry oxygen throughout your body. Without it, you may end up
feeling tired and even have trouble thinking straight. Research suggests iron may even help
prevent postpartum depression and help new moms bond with their babies. On your plate:
oysters, beef, chicken and fortified cereals.
GOOD FOR: Building muscles naturally and maintaining healthy blood.
2.
Potassium: Potassium helps regulate blood pressure by offsetting the blood pressure-raising effects
of sodium. Because it’s found mainly in fruits and vegetables (which most of us don’t get nearly
enough of), many women fall short of this all-important mineral. Just last week, a study published in
the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed that a diet high in sodium and low in potassium doubles a
person’s risk of death from heart disease. On your plate: bananas, baked potatoes, raisins, tomatoes
and artichokes.
3.
Calcium: Sure, calcium helps build strong bones, but it also helps prevent PMS (a welcome side
effect for women everywhere). Bonus: Like potassium, calcium helps regulate blood pressure. On
your plate: milk (and other dairy products), spinach, beans and calcium-fortified products.
GOOD FOR: Healthy teeth and bones.
4.
Magnesium: One of the most underrated minerals, magnesium is involved in over 300 chemical
reactions in your body. Magnesium provides energy, helps keep your cells healthy and strong and
enables your cells to communicate with one another and enhance optimal functioning. Magnesium
also helps regulate blood pressure, keeps your bones strong and prevents insulin resistance and
migraine headaches. On your plate: bran cereal, brown rice, almonds, Swiss chard and molasses.
5.
Zinc: Zinc is critical for keeping your immune system strong. It fights infection, making you less likely
to catch a cold or the flu, helps wounds heal, helps women have healthier pregnancies (a growing
fetus uses lots of mom’s zinc) and even keeps your senses of taste and smell sharp. On your plate:
oysters, crab, beef and pork.
GOOD FOR: Immunity, growth and fertility.
6. CHROMIUM
GOOD FOR: Glucose function – making sure every cell in your body gets energy as
and when needed.
Life on our planet is built around a relatively small number of chemical elements. The most
important ones include calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfur, chlorine and
phosphorus. These are sometimes called the electrolytes or the macro-minerals. These are
found in the greatest in quantity in our bodies.
MINERALS FOR LIFE
Life on our planet is built around a relatively small number of chemical elements. The most
important ones include calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfur, chlorine and
phosphorus. These are sometimes called the electrolytes or the macro-minerals. These are found in the
greatest in quantity in our bodies.
Blood levels of these elements remain fairly constant. If they vary even a little, especially the
first four, the person feels quite ill and it is a bad sign.
However, the levels in the hair tissue vary tremendously, usually offering much more
information about them and the metabolic state of the body. The only one we do not measure in the
hair is chlorine. It is less important than the others and harder to measure accurately in the hair
tissue. Let us look at these first as they are most important in many, but not all ways.
Calcium, the structural element, is found mainly in our bones. Calcium also regulates cell
membrane permeability to control nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction. It is important
for blood clotting, and it regulates hormonal secretion and cell division.
Good food sources are dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. Smaller amounts are in milk,
sardines, egg yolks, almonds, sesame seeds, seaweed and dark green vegetables. Goat cheese is better
than cow’s milk cheese for most people because cows are often fed or injected with antibiotics, female
hormones and growth hormones.
Magnesium is the bright and shining mineral. Magnesium is named after the Greek city of
Magnesia, where large deposits of magnesium carbonate were found centuries ago. It is required for
over 500 enzymes that regulate sugar metabolism, energy production, cell membrane permeability, and
muscle and nerve conduction.
Foods high in magnesium include milk, almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, whole soybeans (but not
tofu, tempeh or soy protein), parsnips, wheat bran, whole grains, green vegetables, seafood, kelp and
molasses.
Most people need more magnesium than they are eating because food refining strips away
magnesium. Deficiency causes muscle cramps, weakness, depression and fatigue. Magnesium works
closely with potassium and is a calcium antagonist.
Sodium, the volatility and the solvent mineral. It helps regulate blood pressure, fluid balance,
transport of carbon dioxide, and affects cell membrane permeability and other cell membrane
functions. Deficiency causes fatigue and fluid imbalances such as low blood pressure.
Food sources include sea salt, seafood, eggs, beet greens, Swiss chard, olives, peas, and
butter. Table salt is a refined junk food. Most of the minerals have been stripped away, and aluminum is
often added as a flowing agent. Use natural sea salt instead.
Potassium, another solvent mineral and a heart mineral. It is also essential for regulation of the heart
beat, fluid balance and to maintain blood pressure. It is also needed for buffering the blood, and cell
membrane effects including nerve transmission and muscular contraction. Deficiency can cause cramps,
fatigue and heart irregularities.
Good sources are herring, sardines, halibut, goose, most nuts and seeds, watercress, garlic,
lentils, spinach, artichokes, lima beans, Swiss chard, avocados, buckwheat, wheat bran, molasses, and
kelp. Be sure to drink the water in which you cook vegetables to obtain the potassium from the
vegetables.
Chlorine, a cleanser. This is a fascinating element that is found in all living tissue. Chlorine is
essential for the function of cleansing the body of debris. It is also exchanged in the stomach to produce
hydrochloric acid, a very necessary acid for protein digestion.
Chlorine is a member of a group of elements called the halogens. Others in this group are
fluoride, iodine and bromine. The body maintains a delicate balance between all these elements. Today
too much chlorine, bromine and fluoride are overwhelming the iodine and causing deficiencies in our
bodies.
Deficiency of this element is non-existent, unlike all the other electrolytes. The reason is that chlorine is
part of salt (NaCl). Most people eat too much, rather than too little table salt, as it is found in almost all
prepared and processed food items today. Thus we do not focus on this element in terms of
deficiencies.
In contrast, excessive exposure to chlorine is a severe problem. Too much table salt and chlorinated
water are the main sources. Some bleached flour products are also sources. Environmental
contamination of the food, water and air are constant sources of this element, which is highly toxic in
these forms.
Sulfur, a fiery cleansing and joining mineral. It is an important element for digestion and
detoxification in the liver. It is needed for the joints and in all connective tissue. This includes the hair,
skin and nails. Most dietary sulfur comes from sulfur-containing amino acids found mainly in animal
protein foods. Good sources are eggs, meats, and often smelly foods like garlic and onions. Other
sources are kale, watercress, Brussels sprouts, horseradish, cabbage cauliflower and cranberries.
Vegetarians can easily become deficient in sulfur if they do not eat eggs. Deficiency can affect
hair, nails, skin, joints, energy and the ability to detoxify poisons.
Today, plenty of organic or usable sulfur is needed to oppose excess copper in the body. Most
people today have too much biounavailable copper in their bodies, and sulfur is needed to help remove
it. Good sources are animal proteins such as eggs, particularly the egg yolk.
Phosphorus, the most fiery energy mineral. It is required for energy production, DNA synthesis
and protein synthesis. It is also needed for calcium metabolism, muscle contraction and cell membrane
structure.
Excellent sources include all meats, along with eggs, fish and other animal proteins. All proteins
have some phosphorus in them. However, red meats and high purine proteins tend to have the
most. These include organ meats, sardines, and anchovies. The latter two are not bad fish to eat. Other
fish tend to be too high in mercury to make them good foods for regular use. Other decent food sources
are most nuts and seeds, chickpeas, garlic, lentils, popcorn, soybeans, and some cheeses.
Animal-based sources of phosphorus are often absorbed better than grains and beans that
containphytates. These are phosphorus compounds that are not well-absorbed and that actually
interfere with the absorption of calcium, magnesium and zinc, in particular. They are found in most
grains and beans. This is why proper cooking and preparation of breads, beans and other foods is
extremely important. Eating these foods raw eating unleavened bread is not wise for this reason.
Calcium
Found in milk, leafy green vegetables, and fish with bones like salmon and canned sardines.
Your body needs lots of it. It helps regulate your heartbeat and move your muscles and is the
main material in your bones and teeth.
Chromium
Comes from beans, cheese, whole grains, peas, and meat. It helps your body use glucose.
Copper
Found in beans, raisins, chocolate, nuts, meat, and shellfish. It helps produce chemicals in the
lungs, and helps form red blood cells.
Fluorine
Comes from gelatin desserts, fish, tea, and fluoridated water. It helps make bones and teeth
stronger.
Iodine
Found in iodized salt, seaweed, seafood, and dairy products. It helps keep your skin, hair, and
nails healthy, and helps keep your thyroid gland working.
Iron
Comes from beans, nuts, dried fruits, green vegetables, egg yolks, and peas. It is used in making
enzymes and protein and helps the blood carry oxygen.
Magnesium
Found in apricots, bananas, soybeans, nuts, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains. It helps
your heart beat, your muscles work, and your bones grow.
Manganese
Comes from cocoa, egg yolks, nuts, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. It helps cells function
and bones grow.
Molybdenum
(muh-LIB-duhnum) Found in dark green vegetables, peas, grains, and beans. It helps cells to
function.
Phosphorus
Comes from peas, peanuts, dried fruits, bananas, oranges, beans, potatoes, yogurt, and meat. It
helps balance your body water, carry nutrients to cells, keep your heartbeat regular, and move
your muscles.
Selenium
Comes from egg yolks, chicken, garlic, grains, tomatoes, fish, shellfish, and red meat. With
vitamin E, it helps prevent damage to cells.
Sodium
Found in salt from canned products and processed foods. It helps balance water in your body's
tissues and blood.
Zinc
Comes from whole wheat, poultry, eggs, beef, and shellfish. It helps wounds heal and helps your
senses of taste and smell.
http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/vitamins-and-minerals.html