Naturopaths have been focusing on the benefits of minerals and using them in healing process. These are some of the most important nutritional constituents in a healthy diet. Minerals are very important for your general health and also for offering healing when you need it.

The human body is composed of 65% oxygen, 18.5% carbon, 9.5% hydrogen and 3.2% nitrogen. About 4% of our body weight comes from minerals. The beauty is that even though they are needed in a small quantity, they are very crucial for your bodily functions.

Importance of minerals

There are important in physiological function and the maintenance and homeostasis of every cell and organ in your body. Minerals are important as they make up the structure of the body and also work as catalysts in millions of biochemical reactions that are happening in every cell and organ every day.

A few examples will help you to understand how important and crucial minerals for you. Calcium is a major component of bones and teeth. Iron is necessary for oxygen transportation in the blood to the surrounding tissues. Potassium is necessary for proper function of the heart. Sodium is an important component of all cell membranes. Iodine is crucial for thyroid gland functioning.

So, if these minerals are not present, your body will be in total chaos and that will result in different types of health issues and problems. There are millions of biochemical reactions which will stop or will happen incorrectly without the presence of necessary minerals.

Important minerals

Your body needs the following minerals:

• Calcium 1.5%
• Phosphorus 1%
• Potassium 0.4%
• Sulphur 0.3%
• Sodium 0.2%
• Chlorine 0.2%
• Magnesium 0.1%
• Iodine 0.1%
• Iron 0.1%

Your body also needs some trace minerals. Even though they constitute less than 0.5% of total body weight, but they are very critical as cofactors and catalysts in chemical reactions in your body. Such trace minerals include:

• Chromium
• Cobalt
• Copper
• Fluorine
• Manganese
• Molybdenum
• Selenium
• Tin
• Vanadium
• Zinc

Your body contains the following:

• 75 pounds of Oxygen
• 50 pounds of Carbon
• 15 pounds of Hydrogen
• 4 pounds of Calcium
• 3 pounds of Phosphorus
• 3 pounds of Chlorine
• 4 pounds of Calcium
• 6 ounces of Magnesium
• 4 ounces of Sodium
• 2 ounces of Nitrogen
• 5 ounces of Fluorine
• 5 ounces of Sulphur
• 5 ounces of Potassium
• 1 ounce of Silicon
• 2 ounces of Iron
• 1/2 ounce of Iodine
• plus trace minerals

 And these are necessary for proper functioning of your body.

Sources

The primary sources of these minerals in the diet is fruits and vegetables. Those fruits and vegetables extract minerals from the soil and then render them in the plant form. In this form they are edible and they are also biochemically active. That is why, it is important to consume fruits and vegetables that are grown on fertile and rich soil. Plants grown on poor quality soil will produce foods which are low in the critical minerals necessary for daily functioning and also for structural integrity. Different types of tissues, organs and glands in your body needs specific minerals and vitamins for building cellular structures and to perform metabolic functions. If somehow these minerals are not present for those organs, tissues and glands, they will become weak in structure and function. To restore health and ability to complete the necessary functions, you will need to supply the necessary minerals at the right amount to the right tissue, organ and gland.

References

1. Mineral Healing Recipe Book & Mindmaps
2. Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding gemstone therapeutics in a selected adult population in Pakistan
3. Traditional Therapies for Skin Wound Healing