In conversations about health, longevity, and holistic wellness, it can be easy to overlook the importance of minerals. They don’t carry the same cultural cachet as the latest superfood or adaptogen blend, or even just vitamins. Yet minerals do some of the most essential work of the body.
Minerals are inorganic elements that the body needs to function properly. They are obtained through both diet and supplementation, and they do essential work. Minerals are divided into two groups: major and trace. Major minerals (also called macrominerals) are needed in larger quantities, and they include calcium, sodium, magnesium, chloride, sulfur, and potassium. Your body functions with smaller amounts of trace minerals like iron, copper, selenium, and iodine, among others.
Minerals:
- Conduct electrical signals through the nerves
- Regulate fluid in and out of cells
- Activate enzymes
- Produce hormones
- Maintain cardiovascular rhythm
Mineral balance refers to maintaining optimal levels of macrominerals and trace minerals. These minerals interact with one another constantly, and their ratios matter as much as their individual levels. Too much calcium relative to magnesium, for example, can contribute to muscle tension and disrupted sleep. Zinc and copper require careful balance to avoid one depleting the other over time. A familiar-sounding mineral like magnesium participates in numerous reactions and supports everything from muscle recovery to blood sugar regulation.
Leafy greens, nuts, seeds, legumes, quality seafood, and good sea salt are among the most reliable whole food sources of essential minerals, and a varied, plant-rich diet goes a long way toward keeping minerals in balance.