Mineral and Water Functions

Minerals and water are essential to health and bodily functions. Minerals are essential to body structure and to muscle functions, fluid balance and nerve functioning. Water is involved in every function of the body. It transports nutrients and waste products and is necessary for digestive, absorption, circulatory and excretory functions. Water also maintains proper body temperature and prevents dehydration. There are over twenty minerals needed in dietary intake to maintain health. Minerals are broken down into two categories; macrominerals and microminerals.

Macrominerals are considered major minerals and include sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus and sulfur. Microminerals or trace elements are needed in smaller quantities and include iron, copper, zinc, selenium and iodine amongst others. Although trace elements are needed in smaller amounts, they are just as essential to health as major minerals. Minerals are essential to various functions in the body. Sodium, potassium and chloride are all necessary for fluid balance. Magnesium, sodium, calcium and potassium are critical for proper nerve transmission and functioning.

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Magnesium and phosphorus are both required for healthy bones and teeth and sulfur is needed for healthy protein molecules. Although calcium is most commonly related to healthy bones and teeth, it is also important to blood clotting, blood pressure and regulation and immune system regulation. Minerals interact with each other, along with vitamins and other nutrients to maintain body functions and health. Sources of minerals are plentiful; they can be found in both food and plant sources.

Table salt, soy sauce and large amounts of processed foods all contain sodium and chloride.

Milk, meats, breads and vegetables are also good sources for both of these minerals as well as potassium, calcium, phosphorus and sulfur. Nuts, seeds, legumes and leafy green vegetables are good sources of magnesium which is also found in chocolate and artichokes. Iron, zinc, iodine and selenium are often found in various meats, poultry and seafood. Fluoride, a trace mineral, is found in drinking water, fish and most teas.

Major minerals and trace elements are found in a multitude of food and plant sources. Equally as important as minerals, water is vital to health and bodily functions. Water provides many benefits to the body and is essential to life. Although the body can sustain on little to no food for weeks, it can only survive without water for a few days. Functions of water in the body include dissolving minerals and vitamins making them accessible to the body, flushing out waste products from the body and carrying nutrients and oxygen to the cells.

It is also responsible for lubricating joints, protecting tissues and organs and regulating body temperatures. Water also hydrates the body providing moisture to the tissues throughout the body. Dehydration has numerous negative effects on the body. The body loses water on a routine basis through normal functions such a sweating and elimination waste and it is essential to consume enough water daily to offset this loss. Most people who experience dehydration experience mild symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, headaches and dizziness.

More severe symptoms include severe thirst, rapid heartbeat and delirium. In some cases, if unattended, dehydration can become fatal. Minerals and water are both essential to proper body function and maintaining health. Minerals are needed by the body to provide structure and regulate chemical reactions. Water provides transport, protection, lubrication and temperature regulation and must be consumed to replace the losses through urine, feces and sweat. Both support the body, nervous system and interact with vitamins and nutrients to support a healthy body.