Trace Minerals: How To Use Them For Your Benefit

Trace minerals are vital for us, but not needed in such large amounts as major minerals. Trace minerals are required for several biological processes in the body. The requirements of trace minerals are usually met by normal eating habits.

Trace minerals are the middle category elements of minerals. They come between major minerals and ultratrace minerals.

If you are looking for a specific trace mineral, I recommend you use the expanded toc to find it.

Essential Trace Minerals

Trace minerals are present in living tissues in small amounts. Most of them are known to be nutritionally important ◳. Some are essential, while others are non-essential but equally important.

Trace minerals define as elements that are required in amounts between 1 and 100 mg/day by adults ◳ or make up less than 0.01% of total body weight.

Toxicity Of Trace Minerals

There is a saying about trace minerals: They are beneficial and, or toxic ◳.

All trace minerals can become toxic if consumed at high levels ◳ for long enough periods. The difference between toxic intakes and optimal intakes for essential trace minerals is large for some but is much smaller for others.

Trace Mineral Deficiency

It is one of the most difficult tasks to diagnose trace element deficiencies. Both nutritionally as well as clinically.

The human body has a complex system for managing and regulating the number of trace minerals circulating in the blood and stored in cells.

Common mineral and trace element deficiencies include iron, zinc, selenium, and iodine. Trace mineral deficiencies can lead to growth failure, among other things.

All Our Articles On Trace Minerals

Below you will find a list of trace minerals, where you can find out what they are and what they might be able to do for you.

Copper, Cu

Copper is an essential trace mineral. It is present in almost all body tissues. Copper is the third most abundant trace element. Learn more about copper in our article: What Is Copper & What Foods Can I Find It In?

Copper works together with iron to help the body form red blood cells. Copper has a lot of benefits and some side-effects. You can read all about them in our article: Copper, Cu: 10 Research-Backed Benefits & 4 Side-Effects

Iodine, I

Iodine is an essential trace mineral. Iodine is an element that you need for the production of thyroid hormone. You can find more information about iodine in our article: What Is Iodine & What Foods Can I Find It In?

Your body does not make iodine, so it needs to be a part of your diet. If you do not have enough iodine in your body, you cannot make enough thyroid hormone. That can lead to health issues.

Check out what kind of benefits iodine has and what it might be able to do for you in our article: Iodine, I: 7 Research-Backed Benefits

Iron, Fe

Iron is an essential trace mineral. The deficiency of iron is the most common nutrient deficiency. Iron is the most abundant essential trace element in the human body. Learn more about iron and see the research behind it in our article: What Is Iron & What Foods Can I Find It In?

The most crucial task of iron is making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Which means that iron is essential for blood production. You can find more benefits from consuming iron in our article: Iron, Fe: 8 Research-Backed Benefits

Manganese, Mn

Manganese is an essential trace mineral. Manganese is the most important trace element found in the human body. Interested in knowing more? Check out our article: What Is Manganese & What Foods Can I Find It In?

Manganese works in bone formation, bone metabolism, and synthesis of various enzymes for building bones. It also possesses antioxidant activity and helps with the removal of toxic materials.

Manganese is vital for you. Read about all the benefits it possesses in our article: Manganese, Mn: 8 Research-Backed Benefits

Molybdenum, Mo

Molybdenum is an essential trace mineral. Molybdenum helps to process proteins and genetic material like DNA. Molybdenum also helps break down drugs and toxic substances that enter the body. Learn more about molybdenum in our article: What Is Molybdenum & What Foods Can I Find It In?

The amount of molybdenum in food depends on the amount found in soil and the water used for irrigation. But deficiency of molybdenum is rare.

Nitrogen, N

Nitrogen is one of the most abundant minerals in living matter and a fundamental component of amino acids. Learn more about nitrogen in foods in our article: What Is Nitrogen? What Foods Can I Find It In?

Or check out the benefits that might come from consuming nitrogen in our article: Nitrogen: 2 Research-Backed Benefits

Selenium, Se

Selenium is an essential trace mineral of fundamental importance to human health. Learn more about this crucial mineral in our article: What Is Selenium & What Foods Can I Find It In?

Selenium is vital for many physiological functions. Deficiency is associated with many diseases. Selenium possesses several benefits, but also some side-effects. Find out what they are in our article:Selenium, Se: 10 Research-Backed Benefits & 2 Side-Effects

Zinc, Zn

Zinc is a nutritionally essential mineral. Zinc is one of the most crucial minerals. Zinc is necessary for maintaining the normal function of the immune system. You can find more information and the research behind zinc in our article: What Is Zinc & What Foods Can I Find It In?

Zinc is needed to create the T cells in the immune system and is necessary to produce long-lasting antibodies. It is also vital in prenatal and postnatal development. Learn all about the benefits zinc might be able to provide you in our article: Zinc, Zn: 11 Research-Backed Benefits

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