There are seven minerals you can’t do without
Calcium The most abundant mineral in your body, calcium makes your bones and teeth strong and hard. Small amounts of it travel into your blood. There, it’s essential for steadying your blood pressure and helping your muscles contract. One rather important muscle - your heart - needs calcium to keep pumping.
Iron Without this mineral in you can’t breathe. Iron makes up hemoglobin, it carry oxygen throughout your blood and your muscles.
Iodine Your thyroid gland uses this nutrient to make its hormones. These compounds control your body temperature, regulating the metabolism of every major organ. A lack of iodine can wreak havoc with your body and cause a condition called goiter.
Phosphorus The second-most mineral in your body that works with calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth. Phosphorus is a crucial ingredient in DNA and cell membranes and helps make healthy new cells all over your body. To top it off, phosphorus helps turn your food into energy.
Chloride Your stomach would be useless without this element. Chloride is a main ingredient in your digestive stomach acids. It also helps to assure that all of your body’s cells get their fair share of nutrients - no small job at all.
Potassium Keeping your blood pressure steady, maintaining your heartbeat, balancing water in your cells, and assuring your muscles and nerves work properly are a few of potassium’s many important jobs. Like magnesium, this mineral might be essential for heart health.
Sodium This mineral usually gets a bad rap because it’s the main element in salt. But your body needs sodium to maintain its balance of fluids. Nowadays, most people try to limit their salt, or sodium, intake for health reasons. Those who are “salt-sensitive” are especially at risk for heart disease.