What are Minerals?
Minerals have important functions for animal nutrition and play a major role in the development and maintenance of the body, as well as perfoming many other physiologic functions (Orffa, 2015).
Although the majority of mineral elements are found in animals tissues, by naturally occuring, many are actually thought to be present merely because they are consituents of the animal's food which therefore may not have an essential function within the animal's metabolism.
Essenital minerals are divided up into two main categories these are major minerals (macrominerals) and trace minerals (microminerals). The classification of the essential minerals are seperated into the mentioned groups and will depend upon their concetration in the animal or amounts required within the diet (Mcdonald et al,. 2001).
Periodic table of trace and microminerals
(Google, Images, 2016)
Macrominerals
Sodium = maintains appropriate fluid balance in the body. It is also necessary for muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmissions. Sources include; table salt, soy sauce, and in processed foods. It is also found in small amounts in milk, bread, vegetables, and certain meats.
Chloride is needed for proper function of stomach acid and also for fluid balance maintenance. Sources include; table salt, soy sauce, and in processed foods. It is also found in small amounts in milk, meats, bread, and some vegetables.
Potassium is required for normal fluid balance, muscle contraction, and for nerve impulse transmission. Sources are; Meats, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are good sources of potassium.
Calcium is needed for healthy bones and teeth. It is also needed to help muscles relax and contract, nerve functioning, blood clotting, regulating blood pressure, and supports the immune system. Sources include; milk products, fortified tofu and soy milk, vegetables, such as broccoli and mustard greens, and legumes(Choices, 2015)
Phosphorus is found in every cell. It is necessary for healthy bones and teeth. It plays a role in normal acid-base balance. Sources are; It is found in meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and milk.
Magnesium is found in the bones. It is necessary for protein production, muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, and supports the immune system.
Sources include; Nuts and seeds, legumes, leafy greens, seafood, artichokes, chocolate, and hard drinking water are good sources of magnesium.
Sulfur is found in protein molecules and is usually found in foods high in protein, such as meats, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, legumes, and nuts.
(Lawson, 2016)
Traceminerals
Iron = It essential part of a molecule that is found in red blood cells. It is necessary to carry oxygen throughout the body and is needed for energy metabolism. It is found in organ meats, red meats, fish, poultry, shellfish, egg yolks, and legumes. It is also found in dried
fruits, leafy greens, and fortified cereals (Lawson, 2015)
Zinc = Part of many enzymes; its needed for making protein and genetic material; has a function in taste perception, wound healing, normal fetal development, production of sperm, normal growth and sexual maturation and contriubutes to health. Sources are; Meats, fish, poultry, leavened whole grains, vegetables
Iodine = Found in thyroid hormone, which helps regulate growth, development, and metabolism. Sources are; seafood, foods grown in iodine-rich soil, iodized salt, bread, dairy products
Selenium = it is an antioxidant and sources include meats, seafood, grains (WebMD, 2014).
Chromium = influences how the hormone insulin behaves in the body. This means it may affect the amount of energy we get from food. Sources of chromium include:meat wholegrains – such as wholemeal bread and whole oats lentils broccoli potatoes spices
Copper = is needed for iron metabolism, sources can be found within legumes, nuts, seeds, wholegrain, organ meats and water.
Magnesium = makes up many enzymes and can be found in many foods especially plant foods.
Fluoride = aids with the formation of bones and teeth, it can be sourced from both drinking water and fish (Minerals, 2015).