Minerals

Minerals are essential, noncaloric nutrients that are in all of our foods.

Major minerals include:

  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus
  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Magnesium

Trace minerals include:

  • Iron
  • Fluoride
  • Zinc
  • Copper
  • Iodine
  • Manganese
  • Chloride
  • Selenium

Plants leech minerals from the soil and animals get minerals from the plants they consume. Humans can get minerals from plants and from animal products.

Mineral supplements exist, but are not as effective as getting minerals from whole foods. There are two types of supplement: whole food supplements and synthetic supplements.

Whole food supplements are produced by taking minerals straight from natural sources: soil, rocks, or plant sources; whereas, synthetic minerals are made in a lab. While synthetic mineral supplements mimic the mineral’s chemical structure, they are probably not exact copies. That means the body does not recognize the synthetic mineral structure and does not absorb the mineral efficiently.

FYI: No supplements, including minerals, are approved by the FDA. Only prescription drugs are approved by the FDA!

The bottom line is that a healthy balanced diet will provide all minerals needed.