Marko Melamed

11/6/2019
Keystone instructor

Mineral Case Study

As I wrote on the previous assignment, I found out that minerals have an important role on people
body and as many nutrients, they also help us to be healthy. Some things minerals provide us are:
- Keep our bones, muscles, heart and brain working properly.
- Make enzymes and hormones.

In food, there are 2 types of minerals:

1. Trace minerals or micro minerals: They are needed in less quantity than the macro
minerals.
o Iron: helps on metabolic proteins and enzymes.
o Manganese: bone development and wound healing.
o Copper: poor nutrition, poor absorption, or excessive zing intake, can cause a
deficiency on this mineral.
o Iodine: its deficiency can cause brain damage, mental retardation, hypothyroidism.
o Zinc: growth development, the immune system, neurological function, and
reproduction.
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1. Macrominerals:
o Calcium: it’s important to prevent loss of bone.
o Phosphorus: it’s used in cell membranes.
o Magnesium: helps on energy production, synthesis of biomolecules.
o Sodium, chloride and potassium: they help to maintain proper blood volume and
blood pressure.
Around the world, there is a lot of people who doesn’t consume the right intake of minerals to be
healthy. There are studies that show that 90% of Americans get less that the estimated average
requirement or adequate intake for one or more vitamins and minerals in their diets. Some vitamin
and minerals are being consumed by many people in amounts below the levels, for example
potassium, fiber, choline, magnesium, calcium and some vitamins as A, D, E, and C. Some young
children and pregnant women are consuming more vitamin D, calcium, fiber, potassium, and iron.
In my country, the poor people don’t consume the adequate level of minerals to be healthy, so the
level of malnutrition is very high. It’s very important to help this population to obtain the adequate
food to consume the nutrients their organism needs, some education on what does each food
contains could help them because most of the time they choose the cheapest food and this one
doesn’t provides them what they need. When they don’t consume a well nutrition, they are more
vulnerable of suffering a lot of diseases, and in my country, some of them are dying.

In my opinion, there are a lot of countries who need help on public health, this will include
education, health, etc. I have learned a lot in this class, a lot of things I didn’t have idea, the
nutrients people need, the adequate intake we need, how much quantity of each nutrient is healthy,
etc. There are a lot of foods I don’t like but I will make an effort to consume because I have learned
that they provide myself of many nutrients that can help me to be more health and this can help
my organism to prevent many diseases, to have more energy and to be a more active person, not
only physically but also mentally.