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Wednesday, July 30, 2008
7 Important Nutrients for Great Health
If the body is a temple, the building blocks that make up its foundation are often overlooked. Many people understand the functions and purposes of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. However, many other nutrients are essential for maintaining good health. Here, a basic overview of seven nutrients you need now, plus their recommended daily allowances (RDA), and the foods in which you’ll find them.
1. Calcium The most abundant mineral in the body, calcium is primarily used in forming and maintaining our bones and teeth, but it also plays an important role in muscle contraction, blood clotting, and sending messages through the nervous system.
2. Iron One of the most abundant metals on the planet, iron is also the only nutrient for which women have a higher recommended daily requirement than men. Its main function to produce hemoglobin—a protein which carries oxygen from the lungs to the body cells—but it also supports both the immune and central nervous systems. Iron deficiency can cause individuals to become tired and more prone to illness due to decreased immunity.
3. Zinc This mineral, which is found in nearly every cell in the body, serves innumerable functions. It aids in wound healing, supports a healthy immune system, and helps maintain the senses of taste and smell. It is also critical for normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence.
4. Magnesium When it comes to bone health, calcium has historically grabbed the spotlight, but magnesium also plays a critical role in bone building and maintenance. This mineral also keeps our heart rhythms steady and helps to regulate blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Some researchers are exploring magnesium’s possible role in preventing and managing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
5. Potassium This mineral’s many functions include aiding muscle contraction and assuring that the kidneys function normally. Potassium also maintains our body’s fluid and electrolyte balance and is essential for normal body growth and the building of muscle.
6. Folate Folate, a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in food, helps the body build and maintain DNA and aids in the creation of new cells—especially red blood cells. It is also critical to the healthy development of a fetus, as it helps to prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord when taken very early in pregnancy.
7. Selenium Like zinc and iron, selenium is a micromineral that needs to be consumed on a daily basis, but only in small amounts. It helps protect cells from free-radical damage (which helps prevent disease), aids in preventing joint inflammation, and is critical to the proper functioning of the thyroid (the gland that regulates growth and metabolism).
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
7:52 AM ::
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