Effects of Mineral Imbalance and Mineral Deficiency
A mineral is an inorganic substance, meaning it's never been alive. However, in order to survive, all living creatures require minerals. For instance, calcium plays an important role in the clotting process of our blood. It's necessary to the functioning of the parathyroid gland, nerve transmission and the ability of the body to use vitamin D.
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Most people identify calcium with strong bones and teeth. Plants use calcium for cell wall development, uptake of nitrate (a form of usable nitrogen), enzyme activity and metabolism. Even the smallest microbes require calcium and by using the calcium in the soil, convert it to a usable form for plants, which is then eaten by humans or other animals. Therefore, you see, minerals are necessary even for the smallest of living things.
Minerals Necessary for People
Besides calcium, people require boron for their bodies. It helps the body use the calcium. Chlorine, another mineral is also required for a person's body to function properly. It maintains the proper blood pH, affects the transport of fluids into cells and waste out of cells, is part of the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, stimulates the liver, aids in the functioning of the tendons and joints besides helping the body with the distribution of hormones.
Other Types of Minerals
There are many other important minerals required for the body to perform the function of living. Copper, chromium, cobalt, fluorine, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium, strontium, sulfur, tin, vanadium and zinc are all necessary minerals. Some of these are trace minerals, meaning the body doesn't require much of this mineral but the mineral still is necessary for proper functioning.
Scientists are just beginning to understand how some of the trace minerals affect our bodies. In some cases, they know that without the mineral or proper absorption people experience certain conditions, but scientists haven't pinpointed all the roles the mineral plays in the body. While calcium plays an important role in bone development and preventing bone loss, scientists now realize that strontium is also important in preventing bone loss. Luckily, it's quite prevalent in many foods and not much is necessary.
Mineral Deficiencies
Mineral deficiencies can cause many different types of diseases and conditions. Some minerals can aid in reversing diabetes while others may prevent blindness or improve the sex drive. The reason they play such a big role in the body is that in many cases, they help the body to create enzymes or absorb other nutrients such as zinc aiding in the absorption of vitamin B.
Mineral Imbalance
When you discover the necessity of minerals in your body, it's very tempting to try one individual mineral supplement after another in an attempt to cure a condition yourself. That isn't wise however, since minerals also need to have a specific balance. If you have too much calcium, it can affect your body's need for magnesium. The same is true for many other types of mineral balances.
That's why knowing the definition of a mineral supplement is so important. Taking a complex of minerals, unless you have a deficiency, is the best method of supplementation. Always read the label to make certain that the supplement contains all the minerals necessary for good health.
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