Here is some information about minerals you may find helpul:
MINERALS: Minerals are substances like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc that are found in rocks and the soil.
Why We Need Them
Minerals are needed for optimal nutrition. They work in two ways in the body:
- Many minerals support body cells and structures. For example, calcium and phosphorus help build bones, and iron is an essential part of red blood cells.
- Minerals regulate many body processes. Sodium and potassium are important to nervous system function. Chromium helps keep blood glucose levels normal. The trace mineral selenium works with vitamin E as an antioxidant, which prevents cells from being damaged by oxygen.
Sources
All the food groups contain foods rich in minerals. It is important to eat a variety of foods from each of the food groups in order to get all of the minerals in your diet.
Whole grains are rich in magnesium, selenium, and chromium. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of potassium. Red meats are particularly good sources of iron and zinc. Nuts and seeds are good sources of copper and manganese.
The body tends to better absorb certain minerals, such as iron and zinc, from animal foods than from plant foods. Fiber, phytate, and oxalate, which are found mainly in whole grains, vegetables, and legumes, reduce the absorption of some minerals. Still, plant foods are important sources of many minerals. Consuming a diet rich in a variety of plant foods can provide adequate amounts of minerals.
Since minerals are much more stable than vitamins in food, they generally remain in the food even after cooking, canning, or freezing. However, processing does affect the balance of sodium and potassium in vegetables. For example, fresh vegetables are rich in potassium and naturally low in sodium. On the other hand, canned vegetables are usually higher in sodium from added salt.
Types
Minerals are grouped as macrominerals and trace minerals. Macrominerals, such as phosphorus and calcium, are found in larger quantities in the body and are needed in larger amounts in the diet.
Trace minerals, such as iron and zinc, are found in small quantities in the body and are needed in small amounts in the iet.
Here are the 16 different minerals (seven macrominerals and nine trace minerals) that are known to be needed in our diets.
Minerals Needed in Our Diets
| Macrominerals | Trace Minerals |
| Sodium |
Iron |
| Potassium |
Zinc |
| Chloride |
Iodide |
| Calcium |
Selenium |
| Phosphorus |
Copper |
| Magnesium |
Fluoride |
| Sulfur |
Chromium |
| |
Molybdenum |
| |
Manganese |
Several other minerals also may be needed in very small amounts.
Amounts Needed
We need a very small daily amount of minerals in comparison to the amount of carbohydrates, protein, and fats required for a healthy diet. Adults need about 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day, but only about 10 to 15 milligrams of iron and zinc daily. We need less than 100 micrograms (μg) of chromium, molybdenum and selenium. To help you visualize an amount this small, a teaspoon of selenium would satisfy the daily needs of over 90,000 adults!
The following table gives the daily recommended levels for individual intakes of specific macrominerals and trace minerals for adults 19 to 50 years old.
Recommended Daily Amounts of Minerals for Adults Ages 19 to 50 Years*
| Nutrient | Male | Female | Pregnancy | Breastfeeding |
|
*These amounts are Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and Adequate Intake (AI) values from the 1997/1998 Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) reports. AI values are used for nutrients when there is not enough scientific evidence to establish RDAs, or “recommended daily allowances.” Recommendations for other age groups may be more than or less than these for adults ages 19-50 years.
mg = milligrams
μg = micrograms
Source: adapted from the Dietary Reference Intakes series, National Academies Press. Copyright 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, by the National Academies of Sciences.
|
| Sodium (mg) |
1,500 |
1,500 |
1,500 |
1,500 |
| Chloride (mg) |
2,300 |
2,300 |
2,300 |
2,300 |
| Potassium (mg) |
4,700 |
4,700 |
4,700 |
5,100 |
| Calcium (mg) |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
| Phosphorus (mg) |
700 |
700 |
700 |
700 |
| Magnesium (mg) |
400-420 |
310-320 |
350-360 |
310-320 |
| Iron (mg) |
8 |
18 |
27 |
9 |
| Zinc (mg) |
11 |
8 |
11 |
12 |
| Iodine (μg) |
150 |
150 |
220 |
290 |
| Selenium (μg) |
55 |
55 |
60 |
70 |
| Copper (μg) |
900 |
900 |
1,000 |
1,300 |
| Manganese (mg) |
2.3 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
2.6 |
| Flouride (mg) |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Chromium (μg) |
35 |
25 |
30 |
45 |
| Molybdenum (μg) |
45 |
45 |
50 |
50 |
The Daily Value for a mineral on a food label shows you what percent of a typical healthy adult’s need for that mineral is provided by the food. For example, an 8-ounce glass of fat-free milk provides 30% of the Daily Value for calcium.
Hope this helps,
Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, CPT - registered dietitian