The term trace minerals or trace elements were originally used to describe minerals that ere not easily quantified by analytical methods. Today the terms are related to the daily needs for less than 100 mg.
Research on trace minerals in humans is still very young.
It is only recent history the discovery of the importance of these trace minerals and the health benefits to the human body. They are dietary essential as they have specific biological functions and deficiency will produce structural and physiological abnormalities.
Trace minerals are needed in much smaller amounts than the major minerals and usually the body needs minute amounts. Research generally uses blood tests to assess mineral status but tests are not always reliable as values can be influenced by other factors. The main method used to determine trace mineral needs is the balance study; lowest mineral intake that compensates for loses from the body throughout the day. Most trace minerals have only Adequate Intake (AI) and not Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).
Mineral content in fresh foods primarily depends on the mineral concentration in the soil. For example the content of trace minerals in plant foods reflects the concentration in the soil they have grown. Animal sources are usually better sources than plants; animals consume food grown under multiple soil conditions. In general foods from animal sources contain factors that enhance the absorption of such trace minerals. As a rule the more refined a food the lower the content of trace minerals.
Depletion of these nutrients in the soil, cooking and processing adds to the difficulty in obtaining such vital elements from our food. Long and extensive imbalances in minerals are one of the basic causes of diseases. Every single moment of every day the body depends on ionic and trace minerals to conduct and generate billions of tiny electrical impulses for it to be able to communicate and function. Individual trace elements including zinc, selenium, iodine, copper, chromium, molybdenum, chromium have been found to be beneficial for a number of health needs.
Minerals and trace minerals do not exist by themselves but in relationships to one another Too much of one element can lead to imbalances in others.
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Trace Minerals – Trace Elements | Health and Fitness Hints
on June 21 2008
[...] Balance is important to nutrition, but it is particularly crucial when it comes to minerals and trace minerals. The only food available which can claim that comes close to contain all the natural range of the [...]