Approx 4% of the body's mass consists 0f 22 mostly metallic elements collectively called minerals. Minerals serve as constituents of enzymes, hormones, and vitamins they combine with other chemicals (e.g calcium phosphate in bone, irno in heme of hemoglobin) or exists singularly (e.g free calcium and sodium in body fluids).
The minerals essential to life seven major minerals (required in amounts >100mg daily) and 14 minor trace minerals (need less than 100mg daily).
Most minerals occur freely in nature - mainly in waters of rivers, lakes, and oceans.; in topsoil; and beneath the earth's surface. Minerals exist in the root system of plants and the body structure of animals that consume plants and water containing minerals.
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