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| Minerals |
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| Minerals are inorganic nutrients. They include both metallic and non-metallic elements, which are taken by the body in the form of salts. There are 24 elements that are used in our body. They have various functions such as formation of tissues such as the bone, conduction of nerve impulses, formation of RBCs, etc. There are eight major elements required by man and the others are needed in traces. The major elements are sodium, chlorine, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sulphur and magnesium. Some of the trace elements or microelements are fluorine, zinc, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, chromium, cobalt, etc. However, they are all important for the well-being of the human body. All the minerals are basically obtained from the plants as they absorb these minerals from the soil. |
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| Some of the elements that are present in the human body are: |
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| Calcium |
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| It is the element that is present maximum in our body as it goes into the formation of the skeletal system. It is absorbed as calcium phosphate. In addition to formation of bones, the other functions of calcium are to help normal clotting of blood and the functioning of cardiac muscles. As it is necessary for bone formation, it is required in high amounts by growing children and pregnant women. It is present in milk, milk products, Whole cereals, gram, ragi, green leafy vegetables, fish and sesame seeds. |
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| Phosphorus |
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| It also forms the bone along with calcium as calcium phosphate. It is present in the nucleic acids - RNA and DNA as phosphoric acid. It is necessary for the formation of ATP which are the energy molecules of the cells. Thus, phosphate has an important metabolic role. |
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| Phosphorus is present in milk, green leafy vegetables, cereals like ragi, bajra, maize, pulses, nuts, fish and meat. |
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| Iron |
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| Iron is an important mineral as it is essential for the formation of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is a red pigment that carries oxygen in the red blood cells. Pregnant and lactating mothers need more of iron. The foods like green leafy vegetables, groundnuts, ragi, liver, kidney and eggs are rich sources of iron. |
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| Iodine |
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| It is a mineral that is necessary for the foramtion of thyroxin, a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland. Thyroxine is essential for normal physical, mental and sexual growth. Sea food and iodised salts are rich sources of iodine. |
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| Sodium |
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| Sodium is used by the body as salts such as sodium chloride. These salts maintain the acid-base balance and thereby maintain the osmotic pressure of the bodily fluids. It is also essential for the proper functioning of the heart muscles. Body loses some of this sodium while perspiring and this loss should be made up by drinking lot of slightly saline water. The common sources of sodium are common salt, milk, milk products, egg, meat and fish. |
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| Potassium |
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| Potassium salts also work along with sodium salts to maintain the osmotic balance of the body and the muscular activities. The common sources of potassium are oilseeds, cereals, green leafy vegetables, eggs, fruits, nuts and pulses. |
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| Chlorine |
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| It forms the principal anion of interstitial fluid. It is also required to maintain acid-base balance. |
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| Sulphur |
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| It forms a component of some important hormones such as insulin. It is also necessary for normal metabolism. |
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| Copper |
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| It is also a component of many enzymes which helps in melanin synthesis. It is also required for haemoglobin synthesis. |
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| Zinc |
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| A component of atleast 70 enzymes like carbonic anhydrase and some peptidases. |
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