BIOLOGY: Minerals

MINERALS

Calcium	Component of bone and teeth Normal blood clotting Normal muscle and nerve impulse	Milk Butter Dairy Products
Phosphorus	Structural component of bone Component of ATP, DNA and RNA	Dairy Products Cereals
Sulfur	Component of Proteins and Vitamins	Food rich in proteins
Potassium	Principal positive ion within cells Influences muscle contraction Excitability of nerves	Banana Almost all food
Sodium	Principal positive ion of interstitial fluid Important in fluid balance Important in conduction of nerve impulses	Table Salt
Chloride	Principal negative ion of interstitial fluid Important in fluid balance Important in acid-base balance	Table Salt
Magnesium	Normal muscle and nerve function	Nuts Whole grains
Copper	Component of enzyme for melanin synthesis Important in hemoglobin synthesis	Liver Eggs Fish Whole wheat Flour Beans
Iodine	Component of thyroid hormones	Seafood Iodized Salt
Manganese	Necessary to activate arginase (for urea formation) Could be poorly absorbed in our intestine	Cereals Green veggies Egg yolk
Iron	Component of Myoglobin and Hemoglobin Important respiratory enzymes (cytochromes) Component essential for oxygen transport	Liver Nuts Egg yolk Legumes
Fluoride	Component to bones and teeth Fluoridation – adding fluoride to water supplies
Zinc	Cofactor of 70 enzymes Growth and Repair of tissues	Meat Milk Yoghurt Some seafood
Selenium	Antioxidant Part of enzyme peroxidase	Seafood Eggs Liver