Judith E. Brown Prof. Albia Dugger Miami-Dade College Good Things to Know About Minerals Unit 23

Minerals In nutrition, minerals are specific, single atoms that perform particular functions in the body Most carry a charge and are reactive The body contains 40 or more minerals 15 essential minerals are required in the diet

Mineral Elements

Mineral Charge Minerals with opposite charges combine to form stable compounds in tissues Form bones, teeth, cartilage Charged minerals supply electrical current for nerve signals and muscle contraction Measured by EKG and EEG

Electrical Current (EKG)

Key Terms Cofactors Individual minerals required for the activity of certain proteins Examples: Iron in hemoglobin Zinc in >200 enzymes Magnesium in > 300 enzymes

Mineral Charge Charged minerals maintain the body’s water balance (Osmosis), and neutralize acids and bases- Water follows salt Minerals are cofactors for proteins and enzymes- cofactors attach to protein to activate the protein

Charge Problems Minerals may combine with substances in food to form highly stable compounds that are not easily absorbed Example: Zinc in meat is readily absorbed Zinc in whole grains is bound (poorly absorbed) ZnO Mercury poisoning

Preserving Mineral Content Minerals in foods can be lost in cooking water and meat drippings- Water or fat soluble Dried foods retain minerals well

Preserving Mineral Content

Essential Minerals: Calcium

Essential Minerals: Iron

Essential Minerals: Fluoride

Selected Minerals: Calcium Our bodies have about 3 pounds of calcium 99% in bones and teeth 1% in blood and other body fluids Required for bone strength, muscle contraction, nerve signals, and blood clotting

Bones Bones are living tissues supplied by blood vessels and nerves Teeth are enamel-covered bone material Solid bone consists of protein fibers (“matrix”) embedded with mineral crystals Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, carbon

Bone Remodeling Bones constantly undergo repair and replacement (remineralization) Remodeling Breakdown and buildup of bone tissue Osteoporosis Porous bones due to loss of bone minerals

Healthy Bone and Osteoporosis

Timing Bone Formation Maximum mineral content in bones (bone density) is reached between ages Important to build Ca reserves! Bone density decreases with age Women lose 30-40% of bone density by age 70 Rate of loss is determined by peak bone density, diet, and lifestyle behaviors

Building Dense Bones Bone density is built and maintained by adequate calcium and vitamin D intake Vitamin D increases calcium absorption and deposition into bones Only 14% of girls and 36% of boys aged consume enough calcium

Risk Factors for Osteoporosis Women consume too little calcium Wide availability of soft drinks contributes to lower milk consumption