Mineral is a chemical element essentially required as nutrient for the proper functioning of the body and healthy life.
Minerals cannot be made by living organisms, rather it occurs in the Earth naturally.
Most of the minerals that required for the proper function of a human life come from green plants, animals, and from drinking water.
Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium are the five major minerals in the human body.
Minerals are present in the blood of a healthy human being at certain mass.
The following table illustrates the list of major minerals along with their salient features −
Minerals | Deficiency disease | Sources |
---|---|---|
Potassium | Hypokalemia | Sweet potato, potato, tomato, lentils, banana, carrot, orange, etc. |
Chlorine | Hypochloremia | Table salt |
Sodium | Hyponatremia | Table salt, sea vegetable, milk, etc. |
Calcium | Hypocalcaemia | Eggs, canned fish, dairy products, nuts, etc. |
Phosphorus | Hypophosphatemia | Red meat, fish, bread, dairy products, rice, oats, etc. |
Magnesium | Hypomagnesemia | Legumes, nuts, seeds, spinach, peanut butter, etc. |
Iron | Anaemia | Meat, seafood, beans, nuts, etc. |
Zinc | Hair loss, diarrhea | Red meat, nuts, dairy products, etc. |
Manganese | Osteoporosis | Grains, nuts, leafy vegetables, legumes, seeds, tea, coffee |
Copper | Copper deficiency | Seafood, oysters, nuts, seeds |
Iodine | Goitre | Grains, eggs, iodized salt |
Chromium | Chromium deficiency | Broccoli, grape juice, meat, etc. |
Molybdenum | Molybdenum deficiency | Legumes, whole grains, nuts |
Selenium | Selenium deficiency | Brazil nuts, meat, seafoods, grains, dairy products, etc. |