PRESENTATION ON MINERALS AS CLASS OF FOOD

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                               DEFINITION OF MINERAL

Minerals can be defined as an inorganic element that are essential or relevant to the functioning of human body. Minerals are inorganic, which means they are not formed by living things including the body.

                                       GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALS

1.      Minerals exist only in natural form and are not manufactured by the body.

2.      Minerals consist of 60% to 90% of all inorganic materials in the body.

3.      Minerals all come from the soil.

4.      Minerals take part of the general metabolism participating in the production of enzymes and hormones.

5.      Minerals exist in two forms.

6.      Nonmetallic elements consist of organic substance.

                                   FUNCTIONS OF MINERALS

Just like vitamins, minerals help the body grow, develop and stay healthy. The body uses minerals to perform many functions. They are:

1.      Building of strong bones.

2.      Transmitting of nerve impulse.

3.      Maintaining a normal heartbeat.

4.      Helps in regulating enzyme metabolism.

5.      Helps in maintaining acid-base balance of the body and osmotic pressure/.

6.      Helps in maintaining good health.

7.      Helps in maintaining nerve and muscle integrity.

8.      Helps in contributing to tissue growth.

9.      Needed for making protein muscle contraction.

10.  Needed for proper fluid balance stomach acid.

                               KINDS OF MINERALS

There are two kinds of minerals namely:

1.      Macro minerals or major elements.

2.      Trace minerals or micro element.

         MACRO MINERALS: These are elements needed in the body in large amounts. They include:

1.      Calcium

2.      Chloride

3.      Magnesium

4.      Phosphorus

5.      Potassium

6.      Sodium

   TRACE MINERALS: This are elements needed in smaller amounts, 1-100mg/ day by adults and are less than 0.1% of the total body weight. These include:

1.      Copper

2.      Fluorine

3.       Iron

4.      Selenium

5.      Zinc

6.      Cobalt

7.      Chromium

8.      Manganese

9.      Molybdenum

10.  Iodine

OTHER TRACE ELEMENTS INCLUDE:

1.      Aluminum

2.      Arsenic

3.      Boron

4.      Cadmium

5.      Nickel

6.      Silicon

7.      Tin

8.      Valium

MAJOR ELEMENTS	FUNCTIONS	DEFICIENCY/TOXICITY FINDINGS	FOOD SOURCES
Sodium	1.      Muscle contraction 2.      Acid-base and water balance 3.      Nerve and impulse transmission 4.      Osmotic pressure balance	Deficiency( hyponatremia): headache, nausea, appetite loss, weight loss Toxicity(hypernatremia) weight gain, hypertension, dry mucous membranes	Table salt, eggs, milk, sea food
Calcium	1.      Blood clotting 2.      Bone and tooth formation 3.      Muscle growth and contraction 4.      Cell membrane structure and function	Deficiency: No facts found Toxicity: No facts found	Milk, egg, leafy green vegetable, fish, meat, soyabeans, bone meal
Chloride	1.      Maintenance of fluid 2.      Maintenance of osmotic pressure balance 3.      Maintenance of acid base balance in the body	Deficiency: (rare) Hypochloremic alkalosis Toxicity: No facts found	Vegetables, table salt, fruits
Magnesium	1.      Acid-base balance 2.      Muscle relaxation 3.      Nerve impulse transmission 4.      Cardiac muscle function	Deficiency: appetite loss, fatigue, irregular breathing, nervous disorders Toxicity: (hypomagnesaemia) dizziness, nausea, lethargy,	Whole grains, green leafy vegetables, nuts, cocoa
Phosphorus	1.      Bone and tooth formation 2.      Cell growth and repair 3.      Acid base balance 4.      Energy production 5.      Kidney function 6.      Metabolism	Deficiency: (hypophosphatemia), inactivity, sleepiness, unresponsiveness, rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults	Eggs, milk, oranges, legumes, nuts, whole grains.
Potassium	1.      Enhancing the rate of heart beat 2.      Maintaining osmotic pressure 3.      Muscle contraction 4.      Maintaining acid-base balance	Deficiency: (hypokalemia) leg cramp, vomiting, irregular heart beat, nervousness, weakness Toxicity: (hyperkalemia): confusion, weakness	Spinach, butter oranges, milk, peas,beans

TRACE ELEMENTS	FUNCTIONS	DEFICIENCY/TOXICITY FINDINGS	FOOD SOURCES
Chromium	Maintenance of glucose level	Deficiency: glucose effects in diabetes patients Toxicity: no facts found	Meat, cheese, whole grains
Cobalt	Vitamin B12 formation	Deficiency: Anemia Toxicity: No facts found	Beef, eggs, milk, cheese, pork
Copper	1.      Formation of bones 2.      Formation of red blood cells 3.      Formation of enzymes	Deficiency: Diarrhea, weakness, heartburn, vomiting, nausea	Sea foods. Meat, nuts
Fluoride	Bone and tooth formation	Deficiency: tooth  discolouration Toxicity: Calcification	Water
Iodine	1.      Cell metabolism 2.      Regulation of metabolic rate 3.      Formation of thyroxine	Deficiency: Goitre, nervousness, cold hands and feet, dry hair	Iodized salt, sea foods
Iron	1.      Disease resistance 2.      Oxygen transport 3.      Energy production ‘ 4.      Growth 5.      Production of haemoglobin	Deficiency: Constipation, cold, weakness, respiratory problems, tongue soreness	Egg, meat, green vegetables, cereals, liver
Manganese	1.      Skeletal growth 2.      Sex hormone production 3.      Production of vitamins	Deficiency; dizziness, weakness, ataxia Toxicity: severe neuromuscular defect	Banana, egg yolk, vegetable, soya beans and nuts
Molybdenum	Body metabolism	Deficiency: No facts found Toxicity: No facts found	Meat, legumes, whole grains
Selenium	1.      Helps in  the body immune mechanism 2.      Protection of cells	Deficiency: no facts found Toxicity: No facts found	Sea food, kidney, liver
Zinc	1.      Development of reproductive organ 2.      Helps in digestion metabolism 3.      Helps in digestion of carbohydrates	Deficiency: prolonged sexual maturity, loss of appetite, retarded growth, fatigue	Liver, mushroom, seafood, meat.

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