The human body requires several substances in order to carry thousands of process every single second, in every cell. Minerals are one type of substance that the body needs for proper functioning.
Minerals, however, do not contain energy for the body to use. Instead, they work along with carbohydrates, proteins, and fats - macronutrients that contain energy - to help the body release, use, and store energy.
But what exactly are minerals? When one thinks of minerals, gold and silver may come to mind. And indeed, this guess is not to far off. Minerals are elements found in the earth. Minerals help the body by providing structural functions.
For instance, calcium is a mineral that can be found in our body and serves a structural body. Calcium is the most abundant mineral and 99 percent of it can be found in our bones. Furthermore, minerals can help regulate cell function. Minerals that help achieve this include sodium, chlorine, potassium, magnesium and also calcium.
Minerals can be found in two main groups: macrominerals and trace minerals. Trace minerals are required by the body in much smaller amounts.
Some common trace minerals include copper, which can help protect cells from damage and is needed to make bone and red blood cells; fluoride, which is needed to make bones and teeth; iron, which is essential for healthy red blood cells to deliver oxygen to the body's tissues and also helps in muscle function; zink, which is needed for healthy skin, for properly healing wounds, and for fighting off illnesses and infections.
In addition, there are minerals that also help the body to neutralize radicals, which can damage tissues, cells, and DNA. Some common minerals that work to neutralize radicals are selenium, copper, zinc, and manganese.
Today, it is known that antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which, can potentially cause great damage to a human cell. Antioxidants donate one of their own electrons, ending the chain reaction of stealing electrons started by free radicals. Two common antioxidants in the body are Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Vitamin C is the most abundant water-soluble antioxidant in the body, while vitamin E is the most abundant fat-soluble antioxidant in the body.
Recently, however, other antioxidants have gotten more and more attention. One of such antioxidants is lipoic acid, known as LA. In supplement form, it is known as alpha lipoic acid. Unlike other antioxidants, ALA is both water and fat soluble, which allows it to work through the entire body.
The body produces the necessary amount of LA it needs so it is not a matter of being deficient or not. Since LA is found normal in muscle cells, meat eaters are able to obtain more LA than vegetarians. However, green vegetables rich in chloroplasts can also contain high concentrations of LA.
Furthermore, it has been found that intravenous administration of ALA at doses of 600 milligrams per day, three times a week did not produced serious side effects in patients treated for diabetic peripheral homeopathy.
The body needs a variety of nutrients to keep essential processes and chemical reactions going. Indeed, the body is composed of elements and chemical compounds that work together in a complex yet elegant mechanism. We also now that the body obtains these essential nutrients from the food we eat everyday, including meat, fruits and vegetables.
There are two main types of nutrients that our body needs: macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are needed in relatively higher amounts than micronutrients and that is where the name of each comes from. But what are the different types of macronutrients? Let's learn more about them.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates include simple sugars (like sugar) and complex forms of sugars, such as starches found in pasta, bread, and cereal). These complex carbohydrates are broken down by the body (through digestion) into simple sugars. The main function of these carbohydrates are to provide energy for the body. Indeed, even our brain needs the energy that comes from simple sugars, such as glucose. Furthermore, the liver and muscles convert small amounts of sugar into a form of storage.
Protein
Proteins are large molecules composed of amino acids. In turn, these amino acids are composed of basic elements, such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Incredibly, the body uses the simple amino acids from the protein you eat to make thousands of different proteins. The proteins in muscle, connective tissue, and blood make most of the protein in our body. They serve as the main structural element of these and other body parts and organs.
Fats
These last few years, fats have received very negative publicity. Common knowledge is that fats are associated with heart disease and many other illnesses. They are also associated with high blood pressure, cancer, and obesity. However, fat is an essential nutrient because our bodies requirement fat to create cell membranes and to make very important hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen.
Fat also helps vitamins to be absorbed and transported through the blood to body organs.
The human body requires several substances in order to carry thousands of process every single second, in every cell. Minerals are one type of substance that the body needs for proper functioning. 
