Minerals for Good Health

Minerals, especially the more essential ones like Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, and Chloride are very important in maintaining good health. The most common one, calcium, is the most important “building block” for both our skeletal systems and teeth. Calcium level requirements vary from the time people are babies until they are old, and are usually ingested from foods, particularly dairy products.

As people get older, they often pay less attention to their diet, tending to eat foods that are to processed and contain less essential minerals. This often results in the need to take mineral supplements such as calcium pills and capsules, often made from processed seal shells and other natural products rich in calcium. Calcium deficiencies, especially in women who have borne several children, may ultimately result in a condition called osteoporosis which can led to weak, porous bones that can break easily and be difficult to heal. People suffering form this condition may also develop deformations of the entire skeletal system, resulting conditions such as “stooped shoulders” and scoliosis-like spinal curvatures.

Special, extra strength mineral supplements, such as Alendronate, a bio-phosphonate drug, are often prescribed for treatment or prevention of osteoporosis. These medications are very powerful and should only be used under strict medical supervision. In many cases, a combination of proper diet and exercise may be just as good in preventing severe cases of calcium deficiency leading to osteoporosis.

Other essential minerals including magnesium and sodium can be obtained from both foods and by vitamin and mineral supplements. It is important to eat well, including plenty of fresh vegetables, whole grains, and protein producing foods like meat and dairy products. Those who are vegetarians, particularly “veggies” or strict vegetarians (who no only do not eat meat by eggs and dairy products as well) should eat vegetable products like soya products, nuts, and whole grains, all of which have ingestible levels of proteins and minerals.

Many other minerals such as iron, copper, manganese, and zinc have there roles in maintaining good physical health, especially iron in women. Though the best way of acquiring these minerals is through well balanced diets, they can also be obtained in mineral supplements available in both pharmacies and health products stores.