Minerals Your Body Needs

People say a lot about “vitamins and minerals” but tend to forget to talk about the minerals that a healthy body needs or why people need them. When we talk about “minerals,” we are in fact, talking about true to life minerals. The iron in your body is the same iron in stainless steel; copper in your body is the same as the copper in your pennies. Your body needs small amounts of these minerals to function properly and at optimal levels.

Selenium

Selenium is a mineral found in sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, wheat germ, and any plants or animals that thrive in an environment with a selenium-rich soil. It is an important antioxidant that is necessary to protect your cells from damage and have a healthy heart. This food is only necessary in very, very small doses and generally does not require a supplement to regularly get the recommended amount of selenium in your diet.

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that is found in abundance in some seafood (like oysters) as well as a variety of beans. It is necessary for three of your five senses to work properly, but is especially abundant in the eyes. It also has properties that, some research has shown, may make it beneficial in the treatment of the symptoms of Parkinson’s, AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, and even the common cold.

Iron

Iron is a mineral found largely in protein-dense foods such as red meats, egg yolks, and mollusks. Much of your body’s iron is used as hemoglobin in the blood. This makes sure that your body is utilizing energy effectively and able to restore and repair itself. It also helps in the development of a large amount of the enzymes in the human body, many of which are related to digestion and other metabolic pathways. If you’re eating iron rich foods, it’s best to also eat a large amount of Vitamin C so that the iron can be absorbed well.

Copper

Copper is a mineral found in abundance in mollusks and shelled seafood and a large variety of seeds. A large amount of copper’s job in the body is maintaining and restoring muscle tissue. Because it is largely responsible for the muscle tissue in the body it is also a big factor in keeping your heart healthy, whereby a deficiency can be a major factor in several types of heart disease.

Allicin

Although allicin itself is not a mineral, it is made with a unique mineral: sulfur. This organosulfur compound is found mostly in garlic. Although allicin is not generally necessary for the body’s growth and maintenance, allicingarlic supplements can go a long way in helping your body lose weight, fight off viruses, and kill harmful microbes. Taking an odorlessgarlic supplement can help your body stave off excess free radicals as well, preventing cell damage, and death.

Now you’ll know, when anyone says to “eat your vitamins and minerals,” exactly what minerals they’re talking about.