minerals

Macro Minerals

Mineral salts are responsible for structural functions involving the skeleton and soft tissues and for regulatory functions including neuromuscular transmission, blood clotting, oxygen transport, and enzymatic activity. Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are required in relatively large amounts and are designated as macrominerals. Minerals needed in smaller amounts are called trace elements

Calcium

Functions: Structural component of teeth and bones, role in celllular processes, muscle contraction, blood clotting, enzyme activation,

Deficiency Symptoms: Rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, tetany

Source: Milk, Milk products, Fish, Oysters, Bones

Phosphorous

Functions: Structural component of bones and teeth, cell membranes, phospholipids, nucleic acids, nucleotide coenzymes.

Deficiency Symptoms: Neuromuscular, skeletal hematologic and renal manifestations, rickets, osteomalacia, anorexia

Sources: Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk

Sulfur

Functions: Component of sulfur containing amino acids, thiamin, biotin, lipoic acid

Deficiency Symptoms: acne, arthritis, brittle nails and hair, convulsions, depression, Eczema

Sources: Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese

Potassium

Functions: Water, electrolyte and pH balance, cell membrane transfer

Deficiency Symptoms: Muscular weakness, mental apathy, cardiac arrhythmias, paralysis, bone fragility

Sources: Eggs, dairy, avocado, banana, fruits

Sodium

Functions: Water, pH and electrolyte regulation, nerve transmission, muscle contraction

Deficiency Symptoms: Anorexia, nausea, muscle atrophy, poor growth, weight loss

Sources: Sea Salt, meat, seafood, cheese, milk, vegetables

Chloride

Functions: Primary anion, maintains pH balance, enzyme activation component of gastric hydrochloric acid

Deficiency Symptoms: Loss of appetite, failure to thrive, weakness, lethargy, hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis

Sources: Sea Salt, seafood, milk, meat, eggs,

Magnesium

Functions: Component of bones, role in nerve impulse transmission, protein synthesis, enzyme activation

Deficiency Symptoms: Depression, muscle weakness, tetany, abnormal behaviour, convulsions, growth failure

Sources: Meat, eggs, milk, nuts, cacoa

Trace Elements

Trace elements (or trace metals) are minerals present in living tissues in small amounts. Some of them are known to be nutritionally essential, others may be essential (although the evidence is only suggestive or incomplete), and the remainder are considered to be nonessential.

Iron

Functions: Component of hemoglobin and myoglobin for o2 transport and cellular use

Deficiency Symptoms: Listlessness, fatigue, anemia, palpitations, sore tongue, angular stomatitis, dysphagia, decreased resistance to infection

Sources: Organ meats, liver, meat, clams, oysters, blood

Zinc

Functions: Energy metabolism, metabolism, protein synthesis, collagen formation, alcohol detoxification, carbon dioxide elimination, sexual maturation, taste and smell functions

Deficiency Symptoms: Poor wound healing, subnormal growth, anorexia, abnormal taste/smell, changes in hair, skin, nails, retarded reproductive system development

Sources: Oysters, red meat, liver

Chromium

Functions: Normal use of blood glucose and function of insulin

Deficiency Symptoms: Glucose intolerance, glucose and lipid absorption abnormalities

Sources: Organ meat, prunes, mushrooms

Copper

Functions: Utilisation of iron stores, lipids, collagen, pigment, neurotransmitter synthesis

Deficiency Symptoms: Anemia, neutropenia, bone abnormalities

Sources: Liver, shellfish, eggs, meat, fish

Iodine

Functions: Thyroid hormone synthesis

Deficiency Symptoms: Englarge thyroid gland, goiter, myxedema, cretinism, increase in blood lipids, liver gluconeogenesis, extracellular retention of NaCl and H2O

Sources: Saltwater seafood, liver, eggs

Manganese

Functions: Brain function, collagen, bown growth, urea synthesis, glucose and lipid metabolism, CNS function

Deficiency Symptoms: Impraired growth, skeletal abnormalities, impaired CNS function

Sources: Fruits, pineapple, seafood, poultry, meat

Molybdenum

Functions: Metabolism of purines, pyrimidines, pteridines, aldehydes, oxidation

Deficiency Symptoms: Hyperthioninemia, urinary sulfate and urate excretion

Sources: Meats, eggs

Selenium

Functions: Protects cells against destruction by hydrogen peroxide and free radicals

Deficiency Symptoms: Myalgia, cardiac myopathy, cell fragility, pancreatic degeneration

Sources: Meat, poultry, fish, dairy, brazil nuts

Fluorine

Functions: Maintenance of teeth and bone structure

Deficiency Symptoms: Dental caries, bone problems

Sources: Water