What minerals does your body need?

Although coughs and colds are common all year round, they come into their own in autumn. We’ve previously looked at the importance of vitamins and the role each type plays in helping to maintain good health, but it’s also important that our bodies get the minerals they need to function properly.

Vitamins and minerals are vital to your health

Although they’re often overlooked, minerals play a vital role in your well-being. Just like vitamins, if your body is deficient in a certain mineral, it can cause serious problems, and your physical health can really suffer. But while people are often aware of what they need to eat to get a vitamin boost, the food sources of minerals are less well-known. Hopefully, this quick guide will help:

Calcium:

What does it do?

Calcium helps the body to perform basic functions such as the moving of muscles, releasing of hormones and circulation of blood. It’s also important in maintaining the health of your bones and teeth. Without enough calcium in your diet, you’re more likely to suffer from osteoporosis, which means your bones will be frail and easier to fracture.

What foods should I eat?

• Cheese
• Milk and other dairy products
• Green leafy veg such as curly kale and okra

Potassium:

What does it do?

Once potassium is inside the body, it acts as an electrolyte. When dissolved in water, electrolytes dissolve into ions, and the potassium ions carry a positive charge. The body then uses this to maintain several processes, such as regulating fluid balance, muscle contractions and nerve signals. The balancing of fluids is particularly important for your health. Without it, you can become dehydrated, affecting other organs like your kidneys and heart.

What foods should I eat?

• Bananas
• Pinto beans
• Avocado
• White potatoes
• Salmon

Magnesium

What does it do?

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, so it has a lot of roles to fulfil. These include helping to balance blood sugars, regulation of blood pressure, weight management and the formation of bones. It has also been linked to the improvement of moods and anxiety, the alleviation of headaches and enhancing the quality of sleep, so including it in your diet will have multiple health benefits.

What foods should I eat?

• Spinach
• Pumpkin seeds
• Almonds
• Peanuts
• Plain chocolate

Iron

What does it do?

Iron has many benefits. Along with supporting the immune system, maintaining energy levels and regulating body temperatures, it’s an important component of haemoglobin. This substance helps your red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to the rest of the body. If you have an iron deficiency, you can suffer from fatigue, breathlessness and heart palpitations, so it’s important to make sure it’s included in your diet to keep you as healthy as possible.

What foods should I eat?

• Red meat
• Dried fruit
• Fortified breakfast cereals
• Beans
• Dark green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli

More info on vitamins and minerals

If you’d like more information about vitamins and minerals and how they can improve your health, please email [email protected] or fill out the contact form on our website.