Role of Minerals

 Mineral is a homogeneous inorganic material needed for body. These control the metabolism of body and are necessary for body.

Important Minerals and Their Functions

1. Sodium (as sodium chloride)

• Quantity: 2-5 grams
• Main source: Normal salt, fish, meat, eggs, milk etc.
  
  
  
• Functions: control of muscles, transmission of nerve impulses in nerve fiber, control of positive electrolyte balance in body etc.

2. Potassium

• Quantity: 1gram
• Main sources: Approximately all edibles
• Functions: Muscular contraction, nerve conduction, maintenance of positive electrolytes in body etc.

3. Calcium

• Quantity: Approx. 1.2 gram
• Main sources: Milk, cheese, eggs, grains, gram, fish etc.
• Functions: To strengthen bones and teeth with vitamin, important role in blood formation, help in clothing the blood etc.

4. Phosphorus

• Quantity: 1.2gram
• Main source: Milk, cheese, Bajra, green leaf vegetables etc.
• Functions: To strengthen bones and teeth, in coordination with calcium.

5. Iron

• Quantity: 25mg (boy), 35gm (girl)
• Main source: Albumen of egg, bread, Bajra, Banana, Spinach, Apple
• Functions: Formation of Red Blood Corpuscles and haemoglobin, important for tissue Oxidation.

6. Iodine

• Quantity: 20mg 
• Main source: sea fish, sea food, green leafy vegetables, ionized salt
• Functions: important for synthesis of thyroxin hormone secreted by Thyroid gland.

7. Magnesium

• Quantity: Very few 
• Main source: vegetables
  
  
  
• Functions: for functioning of muscular system and nervous system

8. Zinc

• Quantity: Very few
• Main Source: Liver and fishes
• Functions: For insulin functioning

9. Copper

• Quantity: very few
• Main source: Meat, fish, liver and grain
• Functions: Formation of haemoglobin and bones and as a conductor of electron

10. Cobalt

• Quantity: very few 
• Main source: Meat, fish and water
• Functions: For synthesis of RBC and vitamin B12.

All these minerals are needed to be included in diet for being healthy.