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 Minerals

Most minerals are essential for the human body to function. That's why it's so important to make a point of including a variety of foods - which contain different minerals - in your diet every day.

Minerals can be divided into three groups: the macrominerals (bulk elements), microminerals (trace elements) and ultratrace elements (elements that are consumed in microgram quantities).

Interestingly enough, minerals make out about 4-5% of your body weight. More or less 50% of this weight is calcium.

Learn more about the different minerals and their food sources.

Calcium
Calcium makes your bones and teeth strong, and helps your muscles contract and your blood clot.
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Chromium
Chromium appears to enhance the performance of the hormone insulin and is part of the glucose tolerance factor.
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Copper
Used by man for millennia to make tools, copper also plays a vital role within the body.
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Fluoride
Fluoride hardens your bones and tooth enamel. This mineral is also absorbed into a child’s teeth as they form.
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Iodine
Iodine is a mineral essential for the functioning of the thyroid gland in making the thyroid hormones.
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Iron
Two thirds of your body’s iron is found in haemoglobin, the red pigment of red blood cells that transports oxygen.
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Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral stored in your body tissues. It plays a role in more than 300 enzyme reactions in the body.
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Manganese
Manganese plays a role in maintaining blood sugar levels and may protect against some diseases and cancers.
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Molybdenum
Molybdenum acts as co-factor to a number of important enzymes needed for nutrition, fertility and immunity.
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Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a mineral and important nutrient for the growth and development of bone and soft tissue.
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Potassium
Potassium is stored in your body’s cells and is essential for the pH balance of the whole body.
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Selenium
Selenium works as an antioxidant together with vitamin E. It also keeps the male sperm and prostate gland healthy.
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Sodium
Sodium helps your body maintain its water balance and pH. It also enables your cell walls to draw in nutrients.
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Sulphur
Sulphur is found in all cells of the body and helps keep hair, skin, cartilage, bones and tendons healthy.
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Zinc
Zinc is distributed in the organs, tissues and fluids, and is crucial for the proper function of more than 70 enzymes.
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