When man discovered vitamins, forgot the importance of minerals in diet and became "vitamin worried", a condition that survived up to date.

The minerals we need to sustain health and life are common substances such as calcium, potassium, silicon, and tin. The 22 essential minerals and the many other minerals found in the average human account between 4 and 5 percent of body weight (meaning that there are about 7 pounds of minerals inside the body of a 150-pound person).

The essential minerals are divides into two groups, according to how much of each is found in the body. The major minerals are present in larger amounts (more than 0.005 percent of body weight), while the trace minerals are present in smaller amounts. Think of the distinction this way: If there is more than a teaspoon's worth of a specific mineral in the body, it's a major mineral; if less, it's a trace mineral.

The major minerals are calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulfur.

The trace minerals are chromium, cobalt, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silicon, tin, and zinc.

Major and trace minerals are equally essential; some are simply needed in larger quantities than others. Other considered nonessential minerals, found in the body, include arsenic, boron, barium, cadmium, and mercury. Their roles in health and disease are not yet well understood, although we know that large doses of minerals such as iron, arsenic and mercury can be toxic.

Soon we will take a look at the essential major and trace minerals, then at the others.

Para obtener mayor información acerca de cómo los minerales contenidos en los alimentos desarrollan y protegen nuestro organismo, y nos ayudan a recuperar, conservar y mejorar la salud, te recomiendo leer mi libro

COMA MEJOR Y AHORRE, de la colección VIVA MÁS Y MEJOR,