Mineral and Water Function
Ebony M. Dean
SCI/241
January 18, 2013
Joseph Casico

Mineral and Water Function

The body needs many minerals; these are called essential minerals. Essential minerals are sometimes divided up into major minerals such as macrominerals and trace minerals like microminerals. These two groups of minerals are equally important, but trace minerals are needed in smaller amounts than major minerals. A balanced diet usually provides all of the essential minerals. There are seven minerals that play a large part in the body and how it functions. The seven minerals are sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfur. All of these minerals have a certain function and its own source.

Sodium is needed for proper fluid balance, nerve transmission, and muscle contraction. A good source of sodium is table salt, soy sauce; large amounts in processed foods. Chloride is needed for proper fluid balance and makes stomach acid. A good source of chloride is also found in table salt, soy sauce; and found in small amounts in milk, meats, breads, and vegetables. Potassium like sodium and chloride is needed for proper fluid balance. A good source can be found in meats, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Calcium is important for healthy bones and teeth; helps muscle relax and contract important in nerve function, blood clotting, blood pressure regulation, and immune system health. Some sources of calcium are milk and milk products; canned fish with bones (salmon, sardines) fortified tofu and fortified soy milk. Phosphorus is important for healthy bones and teeth; it’s found in every cell and part of the system that maintains acid-base balance. A good source of phosphorus is meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, and processed foods (including soda pop). Magnesium can be found in bones; is needed for making protein, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and immune system health. A good source of magnesium is nuts and seeds; legumes; leafy green vegetables; seafood, chocolate, artichokes, and hard drinking water. Sulfur is found in protein molecules and a good source of sulfur occurs in food as part of protein: meats, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, legumes, and nuts. Iron is needed and is part of a molecule (hemoglobin) found in red blood cells that carries oxygen in the body; needed for energy and metabolism. A good source is iron is organ meats; red meats; fish, poultry, shellfish (especially clams) egg yolks; legumes, dried fruits; dark leafy greens, iron-enriched breads and cereals, and fortified cereals. Zinc is part of many enzymes and is needed for making protein and genetic material; has a function in taste perception; wound healing and normal fetal development, production of sperm, normal growth and sexual maturation and immune system health. A good source is zinc is meats, fish poultry, leavened whole grains, and vegetables.

The function of water in the body is that it regulates temperature, moistens tissues such as those in the eyes, mouth and nose it protects body organs and tissue. It lubricates joints, helps prevents constipation, lessens the burden on the kidneys and liver by flushing out waste products. Helps to dissolve minerals and other nutrients to make them assessable to the body and it carries nutrients and oxygen to cells.

The effects of dehydration is that you lose too much fluid in the body which can happen when you stop drinking water or lose large amounts of fluid through diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, or exercise. Not drinking enough fluids can cause muscle cramps, and you may feel faint. Your body can reabsorb fluid from your blood and other body tissues. By the time you become severely dehydrated you no longer have enough fluid in your body to get blood to your organs, and you may go into shock. You should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and healthy.