Minerals

Food intake generates and conserves energy in the body. Human body needs energy in order to make movements of limbs and activate internal organs. This energy is derived from food. Here are some important components of our routine diet. Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. The body's weight-related functions - like appetite, hunger, metabolic rate, metabolism of fats and sugars, blood-glucose levels, calorie-burning, and so on - operate more efficiently when we have an optimum intake of minerals.

Here are minerals listed below:

Calcium

About 99% of calcium is in the teeth and bones. It is needed for free movement of different substances in the cells of body.800 mg of calcium is sufficient daily for an adult person. We can get calcium from milk and figs, grapes, water-melon, bajari and some type of fish and oyster also. Lack of calcium causes weakening of bones and teeth and also causes osteoporosis.

Phosphorus

About 80% of phosphorus is contained in bones and teeth. It is a vital component of every cell in the body. It is essential for producing vital substances like DNA, RNA, ATP. 800 mg of phosphorus is necessary in adult person. We can get it from milk and paneer, yeast, dry friuts, eggs, fish, meat.

Iodine

It is a component of thyroid gland secretion. It can be obtained from food and green-leaf vegetables. Iodine deficiency cause thyroid gland disorders and a disease named Goitre.

Sodium

Sodium is an important component of the extracellular fluid. About 30 to 40% sodium is contained in the bones. We can get it from salt, milk, beetroot, carrots, radish etc. Sodium deficiency causes headache slow growth of body.

Iron

About 70% of iron is contained in haemoglobin. The remaining 26% of iron is present in liver, spleen and bones. In the absence of iron, cells of the body cannot exchange oxygen. About 10mg of iron must be present in any adult person. We can get iron from mint and other green leaf vegetables, gram, bajri, green gram, soyabean, dates, mangoes etc. It is also obtained from eggs, meat, animal livers etc. Anaemia is the main symptom of iron deficiency.