Vitamins and minerals are essential for the body to provide normal growth and development and to maintain an optimum health. Minerals are obtained from soil and water, and not all minerals are required by the body.
Minerals are of two kinds – macro minerals and trace minerals. Trace minerals are required only in small amounts and some of them are iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride and selenium. These are also known as micro minerals.
The macro minerals include calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chlorine. Minerals help in proper functioning of the body and aid in metabolism.
Calcium: This helps in maintaining strong bones and healthy teeth.
Iron is important to transport oxygen from lungs to rest of the body parts. It also assists in the formation of red blood cells which is a part of hemoglobin, useful for brain function, muscle activity and regulation of body temperature.
Potassium: It helps in maintaining low blood sugar, regulate blood pressure, water flow in the body.
Zinc: Helps in strengthening the immune system, fights against illness and infections, also helps in cell growth and heal wounds.
Sodium: It helps in protecting the body from sunstroke, muscle cramps and maintains proper brain function and water balance.
Minerals are important for an overall maintenance of the body and plays a key role for proper immune system.