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Vital minerals

Nutritionist Jo Lewin gives an overview of the most essential minerals, what they do and how to get them from the food you eat.

For most people, a balanced and varied diet should support all the vitamins that you need. Speak to your GP or healthcare provider if you are concerned about nutritional deficiencies or are considering taking supplements.

Calcium

Calcium is important in the activity of many enzymes in the body and is essential for building and maintaining bones and teeth. The contraction of muscles, release of neurotransmitters, regulation of heartbeat and clotting of blood are all dependent on calcium. Periods of growth, pregnancy and lactation may require increased demand. Deficiency in children can result in rickets, while in adults it can contribute to high blood pressure and osteoporosis.

How can I get it?
Three portions of dairy per day, such as three slices of cheddar, a yogurt and large glass of milk will provide your Nutrient Reference Value (NRV).

Some useful food sources of calcium are dairy produce, small-boned fish such as sardines and anchovies, green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds such as almonds and sesame seeds, tofu and apricots. You can also buy calcium-fortified bread, although it is much better to get it from natural sources.

Phosphorous

Phosphorous is one of the most essential minerals, playing a role in energy metabolism, calcium absorption and converting protein for growth, maintenance and repair of cells and tissues. It is readily available in most foods, including high-protein foods.

How can I get it?
The main food sources are meat, milk and wholegrains, nuts and seeds.

Magnesium

Magnesium is an extremely important mineral and works to activate many enzymes, muscles and nervous functions. Symptoms of deficiency may include muscle cramps, headaches, loss of appetite, insomnia and a predisposition to stress.

How can I get it?
Magnesium occurs abundantly in whole foods and the best dietary sources are kelp, seaweeds, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, nuts, wholegrains and tofu.

Chromium

Chromium is vital to the Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) – a critical enzyme system that works with insulin to absorb glucose into cells, regulating blood sugar levels. Chromium levels can be depleted by over-consuming refined sugars and white flour products and lack of exercise.

How can I get it?
The best sources are brewer’s yeast, wholegrains, potatoes, apples, parsnips and bananas.

Iron

Iron is critical to human life. It plays the central role in the haemoglobin molecule of our red blood cells, where it works transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and taking carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. In addition, Iron functions in several key enzymes in energy production and metabolism including DNA synthesis. Iron deficiency is the most common deficiency worldwide and may lead to anaemia.

How can I get it?
A portion of red meat or sardines served with a dark green leafy vegetable such as kale will help you on your way to meeting the NRV. Other good sources include offal, egg yolk and fortified cereals.

Selenium

Selenium works with vitamin E in preventing free radical damage to cell membranes. It is important for a healthy immune system, fertility and thyroid metabolism. It also helps to regulate blood pressure.

How can I get it?
A few Brazil nuts or a prawn sandwich made with wholemeal bread would provide the daily intake. Other good sources include offal, shellfish, butter, avocados and wholegrains.

Zinc

Zinc is part of more than 200 enzymes in our bodies. In fact, zinc functions in more reactions than any other mineral. Adequate zinc levels are needed for proper immune function and zinc deficiency results in an increased susceptibility to infection. It is essential for the maintenance of vision, taste and smell.

How can I get it?
Zinc is found in fish, shellfish, lean red meat, seeds, nuts, legumes and wholegrains.

Potassium

Potassium can help your muscles and nerves to function properly, lower your risk of high blood pressure and heart problems, ease fatigue, irritability and confusion. Older people are more at risk of too much potassium in the body as their kidneys are less able to eliminate excess.

How can I get it?
Potassium is found in many foods, and is especially easy to obtain in fruits and vegetables such as chard, mushrooms and spinach.

Sodium

Sodium is a component of salt, which is naturally present in the majority of foods we eat. Most people eat more salt than is good for their health. It is recommended that adults eat no more than 6g of salt (equivalent to 2.5g of sodium) per day and children less. Three quarters of our salt consumption comes from packaged foods such as breakfast cereals, soups, sauces and ready meals.

UK dietary recommendations

Dietary recommendations for any nutrient are based on the daily intake thought to be adequate to safely satisfy the needs of the majority of the population. Despite much research, values for optimum intakes are still being debated. The Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) measure used in the UK is calculated from studies of the physiological requirements of healthy people, but because these studies are subject to wide interpretation, the RNI value for a nutrient can vary from country to country. Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) are said to apply to ‘average adults’ and are only very rough guides.

RDAs (Recommended Daily Allowance) is the old system which has now changed to NRVs. The values for RDA and NRV are the same.

NRVs are the levels of essential nutrients considered adequate for most healthy people, and are only rough guides. Nutritional requirements often vary slightly for specific groups of the population, for example during pregnancy and old age. If you’re concerned that you might be at risk of deficiencies, speak to your GP or healthcare provider.

For more information see the Department for Health website.

This article was last reviewed on 13 September 2019 by Kerry Torrens.

Kerry Torrens BSc. (Hons) PgCert MBANT is a Registered Nutritionist with a post graduate diploma in Personalised Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy. She is a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food.

All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.

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