Like vitamins, Minerals prevent diseases and are the building blocks for health. They are more important than vitamins for basic nutrition. Minerals bound to amino acid chelates are absorbed 3-10 times more than the inorganic forms of minerals. Minerals cost a little more but are well worth it..

Minerals/Sources Required Daily Intake(RDI) & Functions Signs of Deficiency
CALCIUM

Sources:milk, milk products, beetroots, figs, grapes, watermelons, millets, seasame, black grams, fish and oysters.

 RDI -800mg ( adult) Functions:

  • helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth
  • helps regulate heartbeat, nerve function and blood clotting
  • necessary for the transport of some substances into or out of cells

Others:

  • Excessive chocolate, spinach, rhubarb and fats interfere with calcium absorption
  • # 99% of calcium in the body is found in bones and teeth

  • Nervous condition, soft bones, irritability, cramps and muscular skeletal pain
  • Lack of calcium weakens bone and teeth and causes osteoporesis.
PHOSPHORUSSources:Milk,cheese, yeast, dry fruits, soyabeans, dates, carrots, guava, eggs, fish and meat. RDI – 800mg ( adult) Functions:

  • Participates in cell repair and energy production
  • Stimulates muscle contractions including the heart
  • Necessary for cell reproduction and transfer of heredity traits
  • Beneficial to skeletal, nerve, kidney and tooth development
  • Helps to regulate the pH of the blood and is necessary for the formation of substances like DNA,RNA, ATP which are essential for life processes.

Others:

  • Can be found in every human cell
  • White sugar can upset the balance between phosphorus and calcium.

  • Weight loss or obesity, fatigue,irregular breathing, stunted growth and pyorrhea
POTASSIUMSources Fresh fruits, milk, garlic radishes, potatoes and meat. RDI-2500 mg (adult) Functions:

  • Benefits water balance, normal growth, and proper nerve impulse stimulation
  • Stimulate the kidneys to eliminate poisonous wastes

  • Constipation, insomnia, nervous disorders, irregular heart beat, muscle damage or even paralysis, general weakness,poor reflexes, brittleness of bones and sterility.
SODIUM

Sources:

 Common salt, milk, beetroots, carrots, radishes, eggs, meat and fish

 RDI -2500 mg (adult) Functions:

  • An important constituent of the extra-cellular fluids. 30% to 40% sodium is present in the bones.

  • Cause headache, nausea, slower development of the body and disorders of the muscles
IRON

Sources:

Mint & other green leafy vegetables, seasame, millets, grams, green grams, black grams, soyabeans, dates, mangoes, eggs, animal livers, oysters

 RDI – 10mg ( adult) Functions:

  • Beneficial to haemoglobin and oxygen transfer
  • Helps promote protein metabolism

Others:

  • Vitamin C helps increase the absorption of iron

  • Anemia, fatigue, constipation and brittle nails

SULPHUR

Sources: Beetroots, cabbage, radishes, garlic, onions, milk and meat.

 RDI -300mg (adult) Functions:

  • Sulphur is a constituent of proteins and some vitamins.
  • It is also required for metabolic processes.

  • Some metabolic processes in the body are hindered by a deficiency of sulphur
MAGNESIUM

Sources: Milk, cereals, green vegetables, dry fruit and meat

RDI-350 mg ( adult) Functions:

  • Beneficial for proper nerve function, muscular endurance, and needed for the conversion of blood sugar into energy
  • Prevents the build-up of calcium in the urinary trait.

Others:

  • Alcohol lowers the magnesium level.
  • Nearly 50% magnesium is found in the bones and the balance in the cells.
  • Necessary for the activation of many enzymes hence a large number of processes taking place in the body are dependent on magnesium.

  • Confusion, nervousness, excitability, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, chronic vomiting and diarrhea.
CHLORINE

Sources:

Common salt, milk, carrots, potatoes, spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, bananas, dates, eggs, meat and salt water fish.

 RDI -2000mg ( adult) Functions:

  • Function in association with sodium. It is one of the main constituents of extra-cellular fluids. It activates certain enzymes. It is a constituent of the digestive juices of the stomach.

  • Bones weaken and joints stiffen if there is a deficiency of chlorine.
IODINESources:Sea-weed and sea- food and green vegetables RDI-0.14mg (adult) Functions:

  • It is a constituent of the secretion of the thyroid gland

  • Lack of iodine impairs the function of the thyroid gland resulting in goitre
COPPER Functions:

  • Beneficial for healing coloring, protein metabolism, hemoglobin, bone formation and nerve fibers

  • Skin problems, overall weakness, lethargy and breathing problems
MANGANESE Functions:

  • Participates in cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis
  • Beneficial to blood and skeletal formation
  • Aids in sex hormone production
  • Nourishes nervous system
  • Increases the absorption of calcium into the bones

  • Hearing loss, dizziness, glucose tolerance and lack of muscular coordinatin
MOLYBDENUM Functions:

  • Found in almost all plants and animal tissues
  • Beneficial to the liver and fat metabolism
  • Prevent anemia

  • None known
SELENIUM Functions:

  • Benefits metabolic processes like fertility and growth
  • Preserves tissues by delaying oxidation

  • Premature aging
ZINC Functions:

  • Beneficial to digestion, metabolism and general growth
  • Necessary for reproductive organs and prostate gland
  • Essential for healing, cell development and may help vision.

Others:

  • Alcohol deplete Zinc level

  • Fatigue, decreased attention span and loss of taste