For optimal health and nutrition, you need to consume 16 types of minerals daily, according to the University of Florida. For some minerals, like zinc and iron, you need only trace amounts for good health; but for others, such as calcium, you need larger quantities. Most people can get the minerals they need from food, but pregnant women or people who don't consume dairy products may need mineral supplements to ensure adequate intake. Before taking any mineral supplements, check with your doctor --- overconsuming minerals causes toxic side effects.
Provide Bone Structure
Minerals and mineral supplements benefit the body by providing skeletal structure and support. Your body needs minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, to aid in bone growth and development, according to the University of Florida. Most people do not get the recommended amount of calcium from food, according to the National Institute of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements. Taking calcium mineral supplements, especially when paired with vitamin D, can reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life.
Regulate Cellular Processes
Minerals, such as iron, prove key to red blood cell production and other activities that take place in the body's cells. People who develop iron deficiency anemia, which causes fatigue and weakness, must take mineral supplements that contain ferrous sulfate or other types of iron to boost blood iron levels, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. In addition to iron, the minerals sodium, potassium, chromium and selenium are necessary for good health. You need sodium and potassium so your nervous system functions properly. Chromium is necessary to control blood sugar levels, and selenium prevents oxygen from damaging the body's cells. Some people need mineral supplements to regulate cellular processes.
Prevent Chronic Disease
Taking mineral supplements reduces the risk of certain chronic diseases, according to a 2006 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality report. Participants in the Chinese Linxian trial, published in the September 1993 issue of the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute," took up to two times the recommended daily allowance of beta-carotene, vitamin E and selenium supplements. After five years of mineral supplementation, those consuming mineral supplements had a significantly lower risk of death, and their risk of gastric cancer and cancer in general was 13 to 21 percent less than people who didn't take supplements. Other trials indicate that taking high doses of zinc appears to benefit the chronic eye disease age-related macular degeneration. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality notes that zinc mineral supplements prevented the disease from advancing in patients in the intermediate stage of the disease.
References
- University of Florida: Facts about Minerals
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Iron
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements and Prevention of Chronic Disease
- "Journal of the National Cancer Institute," Nutrition intervention trials in Linxian, China: supplementation with specific vitamin/mineral combinations, cancer incidence, and disease-specific mortality in the general population; Blot WJ et al.; September 1993
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