Why Are Minerals Essential?

Your diet should contain two categories of minerals. Macrominerals, such as calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur and chloride should be eaten in larger amounts than the other category, trace minerals. Trace minerals are called such because of the small amount of them that your body needs. These types of minerals include iron, manganese, copper, zinc, flouride, selenium, cobalt and iodine. Minerals play a major role in some necessary functions of the human body.

Electrolyte Balance

One of the main jobs of minerals inside of your body is to maintain fluid-electrolyte balance of your cells. When a mineral dissolves in liquid, it turns into a positively charged ion. It is the balance of ions in and out of a cell that allow the cell to perform its job. For example when your heart beats, a rush of positively charged ions into your cardiac cells allows your cell to contract. When this occurs in unison, your heart beats. Without an adequate supply of minerals, your heart cannot regulate its beats and you could suffer from an arrhythmia.

Bone Health

Another major job of minerals is bone health. Your bones are made of essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and sodium. Without enough minerals, your bones won't grow and develop properly. Once your bones are finished growing, you need adequate dietary mineral intake to maintain your bone health. According to a study published in the "British Journal of Nutrition" in April 2009, dietary minerals can be helpful in preventing bone degeneration, like osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that can come with age and involves thinning of the bones. When bones thin, you lose density and your risk of suffering from a fracture increases. Minerals like calcium, sodium, phosphorus and magnesium may improve and maintain bone health.

Hormone Production

The trace mineral iodine is necessary for your body to make thyroid hormones. Iodine pairs with an amino acid that makes thyroxine. Thyroxine is the hormone that helps your body regulate its metabolic rate. A deficiency in iodine can cause inflammation of your thyroid, excess weight gain and fatigue.

Blood Cells

Iron, a trace mineral, is necessary for the maintenance of your blood cells. Your blood carries oxygen to your working muscles via a molecule known as hemoglobin. Hemoglobin cannot attach to oxygen without the presence of iron. When you have an iron deficiency, you cannot carry an adequate supply of oxygen in your bloodstream. When this occurs, your muscles, cells and heart can all suffer.