Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Minerals

You all know how I am against the analytical view of "modern" science on food, but sometimes it is good to know which mineral does what and where you can find it.
For example, I get always a positive feeling when I use (sparely) cocoa powder in a dessert, so that means that my standard diet lacks a bit of phosphorus.
Please check for your self which foods give you the happy feeling, and what this food does for your body. This list shows also the importance of diversity, as you cannot get all minerals out of  a single category of food.
These are not all the minerals of course, but with this list you will go a long way already.
Sodium
Maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, supports muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmissions and can be found in natural seasalt, soy sauce, miso, seaweeds.
Chloride
Maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, aids in digestion and can be found in natural seasalt, soy sauce, miso, seaweeds.
Potassium
Maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, cell integrity, muscle contractions and nerve impulse transmission. Potassium can be found in potatoes, acorn squash, artichoke, spinach, broccoli, carrots, green beans, tomato juice, avocado, grapefruit juice, watermelon, banana, strawberries, cod.
Calcium
Formation of bones and teeth, supports blood clotting and can be found in tofu, sardines, green beans, spinach, broccolli.
Phosphorus
Formation of cells, bones and teeth, maintains acid-base balance and we find it in whole wheat, cocoa powder, dried apricots.
Magnesium
Supports bone mineralization, protein building, muscular contraction, nerve impulse transmission, immunity and we find it is spinach, broccoli, artichokes, green beans, tomato juice, navy beans, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, sunflower seeds, tofu, cashews, halibut.
Iron
Part of the protein hemoglobin (carries oxygen throughout body's cells), to get , please eat artichoke, parsley, spinach, broccoli, green beans, tomato juice, tofu, clams, shrimp.
Zinc
A part of many enzymes, involved in production of genetic material and proteins, transports vitamin A, taste perception, wound healing, sperm production and the normal development of the fetus. Eat spinach, broccoli, green peas, green beans, tomato juice, lentils, oysters, shrimp, crab, tofu and you will be ok.
Selenium
Antioxidant.  Works with vitamin E to protect body from oxidation, in seafood and whole grains.
Iodine
Component of thyroid hormones that help regulate growth, development and metabolic rate and is in natural seasalt, seafood, seaweeds.
Copper
Necessary for the absorption and utilization of iron, supports formation of hemoglobin and several enzymes and can be found in cocoa powder, whole wheat, raw oyster, brazil nuts, coconut.
Manganese
Facilitates many cell processes, is widespread in foods, but mostly found in nuts and whole grains.
Fluoride
Involved in the formation of bones and teeth, helps to make teeth resistant to decay, we find it in tea, seafood, natural seasalt.
Chromium
Associated with insulin and is required for the release of energy from glucose, is in vegetable oils, whole grains,  nuts.
Molybdenum
No definite disease due to deficient molybdenum intake in humans has been recognized. However, it is an element that is part of enzymes (natural substances essential for body metabolism) that are involved in the production of waste products prior to excretion.
The molybdenum content of foods depends on the soil where plant foods are grown.
We find it in potatoes, cabbage, carrots, legumes.

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