General information about mineral substances

Biologically significant elements (as opposed to biologically inert elements) are the chemical elements necessary for living organisms to ensure normal vital activity. Biologically significant elements are classified into macroelements (whose content in living organisms is more than 0.01%) and microelements (content less than 0.001%).

In the physiological processes occurring in plant and animal organisms, an important role belongs to mineral substances. Directly associated with enzyme systems of cells, they take part in oxidation-reduction reactions in plants and affect the synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins, organic and nucleic acids, vitamins. Mineral substances are part of some enzymes, hormones, determine their activity and direction of action. In the fruits of plants, mineral salts are in a form readily available to the body, they contain trace elements that are rarely found in other foods.

At the present time almost all elements of the Periodic System of Elements of DI Mendeleyev are found in plants. Mineral substances - an indispensable component of human food and an integral part of all tissues, intercellular substance of a living organism. Participating in the metabolism, enzymatic processes, they have different effects on the excitability of the nervous and muscle tissues.

Human food should contain at least 20 chemical elements in the form of mineral salts. Since salts are continuously excreted from the body (with sweat, urine, excrement), it is extremely necessary to constantly replenish their reserves. The costs of these expenditures depend on the type of activity, working conditions, the state of the organism. Usually, a variety of animal and vegetable foods contain a sufficient amount of mineral salts.

Mineral substances of plants are in the cell sap in the dissolved state, the amount of them is determined in the ash after burning and expressed as a percentage. In the human body is constantly maintained acid-base balance for normal metabolism. Over-saturation of the food ration with products that violate this equilibrium can lead to a shift in the blood reaction to the acidic side, which contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. In fruits, berries and vegetables are all the necessary mineral salts. Since the ash residue of the berries has an alkaline reaction, their use in significant amounts can lead to a change in the acid-base state towards the bases. This feature of fruit and berries is used in the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, in which metabolic processes are accompanied by increased acid formation.

Depending on the quantities in which mineral salts are found in the body, they are usually divided into macro- and microelements. Macro-elements (calcium, potassium , sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, chlorine, etc.) maintain an unchanged blood composition and osmotic pressure, on which the amount of water retained in the blood and tissues largely depends. The higher the concentration of salts in the tissues, the greater the amount of water needed to maintain a constant osmotic pressure.

Individual mineral salts differently affect the ability of tissue proteins to bind water. Sodium ions increase this ability, and potassium and calcium - reduce. Water metabolism in the body is closely related to mineral metabolism. The water-salt metabolism is affected by the nervous and hormonal systems.

Copper, zinc, cobalt, manganese, iodine, fluoride, etc. belong to the microelements contained in the body in thousandths of a percent. Iron occupies an intermediate position. Lack or excess of trace elements in food leads to disruption of important functions of various body systems - hematopoietic, endocrine, urinary, etc. It is established that the greatest amount of mineral substances is found in the newly formed fruits of food plants.

The number of salts supplied with food in an adult healthy person is exactly balanced by the amount of salts secreted with urine and sweat. In medical practice, a number of minerals are directly used to treat certain diseases.

Microelements are a part of enzymes and other organometallic compounds that act as catalysts in many biological processes that constantly occur in the body. Considering the above, it is necessary to include in the diet various types of products of animal and vegetable origin.