Narrowing down one specific mineral for the human body is like trying to find a needle in a hay stack. In other words it can’t be done. The human body is reliant on a number of minerals, and each and every mineral has its own action that it must carry out, such as acting as a reactor to a certain vitamin or nutrient, or maintaining a harmonious balance within the body itself. Without minerals our body would not be able to process the majority of essential vitamins that we ingest, and these vitamins require several different reactors/minerals. Although our body depends on a number of minerals, there are some that play a larger role in our body than others.

Here are some examples of vital minerals and their actions in the body.

Calcium: Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and it is extremely important. First of all calcium is essential to the development of strong bones and healthy teeth, but everyone knows that! What most people don’t know is that calcium is also a vital mineral to muscle contraction, blood vessel contraction and expansion, and the secretion of hormones and enzymes, as well as playing a key role in nervous system message transmission. On top of all that calcium is needed to react with Vitamin C to aid absorption.

Iron Everyone knows that Iron is a key component to blood oxygenation. Iron allows the oxygen molecule to bind with the blood cell and transport it to the rest of the body. While iron is plentiful and readily accessible in our food, iron deficiency remains the number one mineral deficiency in the world. Iron also acts as a supporting mineral to many enzymes in the body.

Iodine Iodine is essential to the function of the thyroid gland which in turn helps to regulate and support metabolic balance. Iodine is also extremely important to the body’s connective tissues.

Magnesium Is a very busy mineral inside the body, it is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions. This little mineral plays a role in almost every vital bodily function. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis.

Zinc Zinc is an absolute necessity to the proper function of the immune system, as well as cell division, growth, wound healing, and carbohydrate break down. Zinc is also necessary to aid in the absorption of vitamin A. Recently researchers have made a link between the development of prostate cancer and zinc deficiency.

These are simply the top five on a long list of minerals that the body needs to function properly. Luckily, there is an all in one formula available that ensures your body receives all of these minerals, not just these five, but a complete list of 12 essential minerals. Making sure that your body has all the minerals it needs will ensure you get the most out of your vitamins and nutrients, as minerals are needed to absorb a great number of them properly. You can find this all in one Balanced Minerals DailyFoods

With all the commercials circulating for osteoporosis it is no new fact that calcium is needed to build and maintains strong healthy bones, but in actuality you need this essential mineral for a lot more than building healthy bones. Calcium plays a role in many life sustaining actions throughout the day such as regulating your heart beat, clotting your blood, conducting nerve impulses, and stimulating hormone secretions. The tricky thing is that your body not only uses calcium everyday, it loses calcium everyday as well. If you do not supplement, or get enough calcium through your diet, your body will take what it needs from the stored calcium in your bones and teeth.

The average adult should get a recommended 1,000-1,200mg of calcium daily. However, many people do not get this required amount because of strict or poor diets. The problem occurs after the age of 30 -35, after this point the body no longer stores calcium in the bones, which leaves your body reliant on you to consume calcium rich foods or a supplement. If you do not supplement, the body will continue to try and get calcium from your bones, where it is no longer stored, and this over time will lead to osteoporosis.

The typical adult consumes only 20% of their recommended daily amount of calcium; this is why doctors often suggest taking vitamin D in conjunction with a calcium supplement because, Vitamin D aids the body in absorbing the mineral. Calcium exists in nature as a compound, therefore when you purchase a supplement it usually comes in one of three forms: calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, or calcium phosphate. There is really not much difference between the three other than the amount of calcium vs. the amount of the other mineral. You should try to get the supplement that contains the most calcium, rather than the most filler; it may also be beneficial to find one that combines both the calcium and the vitamin D.

Another key point to look for is the purity of the supplement, if the supplement is a good name brand than it should be safe. However, if the name brand is one you have never heard of before you should be sure that it meets the USP standards. Always avoid calcium that comes from unrefined oyster shell, bone meal, or dolomite because of the risk of dangerous toxins. Calcium has been known to interfere with the absorption of certain medications, if you are taking prescriptive medication check with you pharmacist about spacing your meds appropriately to avoid an interaction. If you experience side effects such as constipation or gas try switching to a different brand of calcium.

Once you decide which supplement to take and when to take it, you may start noticing other subtle effects that researchers have linked to taking a calcium supplement. Researcher have linked adequate amounts of calcium in the body to better weight management, control of hypertension, restoration of a normal reproductive cycle, less severe menopause and PMS symptoms, and prevention of certain cancers… among other things. Now that you know how to choose a supplement, and why to take a calcium supplement, the only thing left to do is to buy a bottle of Calcium with vitamin D and start your healthier daily regimen.