Vitamin Supplements

Within the human body there is a surprising assortment of minerals. They have much to do with keeping us in good physical condition. Some minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, are needed for building strong bones and teeth. If it were not for these, our bodies would collapse. Other minerals act more or less like chemical “spark plugs” through their association with the enzyme systems of the body. Still others have special functions of their own to perform.

The chief minerals of the body are calcium, phosphorus, iron, and iodine. We need more of these than of the others. For that reason, these four are the most likely to be missing from a deficient diet. There are only traces of the other minerals in the body, but most of them must also be present for normal health.

Accustomed as we are to thinking of large quantities of minerals, it is often difficult for us to realize that such small amounts can really do any good. Yet almost all of those that are present seem to be necessary for the smooth working of the body, and the amount of each is not great.

For instance, we have only a few grains of iodine in the body, perhaps enough to cover the head of a pin. Yet this small amount of iodine will make all the difference between a normal individual and one who is a mental and physical dwarf. The body picks up just the right amount of iodine from the food we eat to maintain the balance. We will speak more about iodine after we have discussed several other minerals.

Minerals are needed for another reason as well. They must be present to give a chemical balance to the blood stream.

Calcium

Take the question of calcium (or lime). This is by far the most abundant mineral in the body. You probably have several pounds of it in your system. About 99 per cent of it is in your bones; the rest of it is busy circulating in the blood. The calcium in the bones is needed for strength. The calcium in your blood has another vitally important function to perform. Without it, you might quickly bleed to death. When you cut your finger, calcium is there, ready to do its part in preventing a serious hemorrhage.

Calcium has a dynamic effect upon both nerves and muscles. If for any reason the calcium in your blood drops below the safe level, your nerves become extremely irritable. The muscles go into spasm (or tetany), and cramping pains are felt in various parts of the body.

The calcium in your blood stream is very important to your heart. Without it, the heart would no longer operate with a smooth, regular rhythm. It would become very irregular and might even stop beating altogether. This important mineral must be in exactly the right concentration to keep all this intricate machinery operating at top efficiency.

In the formation and structure of the bones, calcium has a special teammate, phosphorus. Together they keep the bones strong and firm, and the teeth hard and durable. Your bones may appear simple, but they are really most remarkable structures. They are not a hard mass of inert, stony material. They are alive. And what is more, they are continually changing. They are an immense storehouse of calcium and phosphorus, a bank upon which the body can draw at any time. But there is grave danger in doing this too frequently. It is possible to weaken the framework upon which the body depends.

Inside most of the larger bones there are cavities filled with soft marrow. Here is where your red blood cells are born. The calcium in your bones helps to protect these delicate organs that are so necessary in the formation of blood cells.

There are certain periods of life when calcium is extremely important. Young mothers need extra calcium during pregnancy and throughout the time they are nursing their babies. Calcium is highly important during the years of childhood and youth when the bones are growing and developing rapidly. Infants, children, and adolescents all need an abundant supply of calcium in their diets. Prospective mothers should be well supplied. Those in the older age groups also need extra calcium. In fact, there is no time in life when any of us can afford to go short on calcium.

What are the best sources of calcium? Milk and dairy products come first. Unless these are included in the diet, it is possible to run short. Other good sources include green vegetables, peas, beans, soybeans, eggs, lentils, potatoes, and fish. The most easily absorbed form of calcium is that found in milk, cheese, and buttermilk.

A diet rich in calcium helps to promote growth. It increases one’s vitality and adds vigor to the later years of life. People who have been given adequate amounts of calcium in their youth not only live longer, but they also seem to escape some of the hazards and disabilities of old age.

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