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Along with vitamins, minerals belong to the group of micronutrients. They are divided into bulk and trace elements.
Bulk elements account for more than 50 mg per kilogram of our body weight. This results in a body stock of about three to four kilograms. Trace elements, on the other hand, with less than 50 mg per kilogram of body weight, only make up about ten grams.
| Quantitative elements | Trace elements | Ultra trace elements |
| Sodium | Iron | Aluminum |
| Chloride | Fluorine | Bromine |
| Potassium | Zinc | Barium |
| Calcium | Copper | Strontium |
| Magnesium | Iodine | Antimony |
| Phosphorus | Cobalt | Tin |
| Sulfur | Manganese | Vanadium |
| Chromium | Mercury | |
| Nickel | Lead | |
| Molybdenum | Cadmium | |
| Selenium | Arsenic | |
Why does our body need minerals? Which foods contain which mineral?
Minerals many different functions, which include:
- The regulation of our water balance
- The activation of cells and support of various enzymes
- The involvement in the formation of tissues such as bones and teeth
- The contraction and relaxation of our muscles
- The transmission of stimuli between nerve cells
