Minerals and their Significance to a Human Body

Macro Elements

Calcium(Ca)

Sources: Milk,Cereals, Cheese, Green, Vegetables, Fish, Egg, Meat etc
Significance: Main component for formation of teeth and bones, blood clotting, function of nerves and muscles.
Effects of deficiency : Weak teeth and bones, retarded body growth, children suffered by Rickets.

Phosphorus(P)

Sources: Vegetables, Soybean, Milk, Egg, Fish, Meat etc.
Significance: Required for formation of teeth and bones,Synthesis of Nucleic acids.
Effects of deficiency : Weak teeth and bones;retarded body growth and physiology, children suffered by Rickets.

Sulphur(S)

Sources: Many proteins of food.
Significance: Component of many amino acids.
Effects of deficiency : Distributed protein metabolism.

Potassium(K)

Sources: Meat, milk, cereals, fruits and vegetables
Significance: Required for acid-base balance, water regulation and function of nerves.
Effects of deficiency : Low blood pressure, weak muscles;risk of paralysis.

Chlorine(Cl)

Sources: Table salt
Significance: Required for acid base balance;component of gastric juice.
Effects of deficiency : Loss of appetite;muscles cramps.

Magnesium(Mg)

Sources: Cereals, green vegetables
Significance: Co-factor of many enzymes of glycolysis and a number of another metabolic reactions dependent upon ATP.
Effects of deficiency : Irregular heart beat, muscles pain, hysteria.

Iron(Fe)

Sources: Meat, Eggs, Cereals, Green Vegetables, Pulses, Fruits, Fish etc.
Significance: Main component of hemoglobin.
Effects of deficiency : Anemia, weakness and weak immunity.

Iodine(I)

Sources: Milk, Cheese, Sea Food, Beat, Salgam
Significance: Important component of Thyroxine hormone and Thyroid Gland.
Effects of deficiency : Goiter, Cretinism.

Sodium(Na)

Sources: Salt, Vegetables, Fish, Eggs, Meat etc.
Significance: Control function of Heart, Muscles and Nerves.
Effects of deficiency : Destroy Muscles, Weight Loss, Tiredness.

Micro Elements

Fluorine(F)

Sources: Drinking water, tea, sea food
Significance: Maintenance of bones and teeth.
Effects of deficiency : Weak teeth, larger amount causes mottling of teeth.

Zinc(Zn)

Sources: Cereals, Milk, eggs, meat, sea food
Significance: Co-factor of digestive and many other enzymes.
Effects of deficiency : Retarded growth, anaemia, rough skin, weak immunity and fertility.

Copper(Cu)

Sources: Meat, dry fruits, pods, green vegetables, sea food.
Significance: Co-factor of cytochrome oxidase enzyme. Necessary for iron metabolism and development of blood vessels and connective tissues.
Effects of deficiency : Anaemia, weak blood vessels and connective tissues.

Manganese(MN)

Sources: Dry fruits, cereals, tea fruits and green vegetables.
Significance: Co-factor of some enzymes of urea synthesis and transfer of phosphate group.
Effects of deficiency : Irregular growth of bones, cartilages and connective tissues.

Cobalt(Co)

Sources: Milk, cheese, meat.
Significance: Important component of Vitamin B12.
Effects of deficiency : Anaemia

Selenium(SE)

Sources: Meat, cereals, sea food
Significance: Co-factor of many enzymes;assists Vitamin E.
Effects of deficiency : Muscular pain;weakness of cardiac muscles.

Chromium(CR)

Sources:Yeast, sea food, meat, some vegetables
Significance: Important for catabolic metabolism.
Effects of deficiency : Irregularities of catabolic metabolism and ATP production.

Molybdenum(MO)

Sources: Cereals, pods, some vegetables
Significance: Co-factor of some enzymes.
Effects of deficiency : Irregular excretion of nitrogenous waste products.