335
oxygen (67%), followed by silicon (28%) and aluminum (8%). The remaining 1%
of the elements in the human body (with the exception of sulfur) are inorganic or
mineral constituents of the body. The seven remaining elements: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine together represent
0.9% of human weight. Seventeen others make up the remaining 0.1%, some, but
not all, of which are considered essential in the diet. These elements occur in measurable concentrations but do not perform essential biological functions. Cadmium
is one such example. A newborn baby does not have these elements but gradually
accumulates cadmium by eating and breathing, to the extent that during his life, the
average person living in an industrial area accumulates milligrams of this element.
Not only does cadmium have no essential function in our body, but it is even an
undesirable element and potentially harmful. Minerals are extremely effective catalysts for all cellular functions. Some minerals work by increasing the electrical
potential of cells. Other minerals act as metalloenzymes, which can then act as
enzyme reactors in cells, as signal transformers, and as message carriers. In the
human diet, minerals play a role in a number of key bodily functions. Disorders in
mineral activities and nutritional deficiency of any of the minerals are very common
and result in the occurrence of degenerative conditions.
Among the minerals, a group of primary electrolytes stands out, namely, sodium,
potassium, magnesium, sulfate, phosphate, calcium, and chloride. Internal relationships between individual minerals play a very important role in the way enough
energy is produced by the body’s cells. For example, the ratio of sodium to potassium is primary for the electrical conductivity of the cell membrane. Most often,
this ratio is used (in various ways) to identify the function of adrenal activity, digestion, and hormone synthesis. The mineral magnesium is an essential activator for
more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. It must be present for the body to
produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the main intracellular energy storage or biological energy. Magnesium is known to be required for glucose metabolism and is necessary for a normal insulin response. It is also needed to reduce
excessive sympathetic stress, for normal bowel function, and for bone health. It has
been shown that when phosphorus levels are reduced, calcium is usually precipitated from body fluids and can accumulate in body tissues. The electrolytes chloride
and sodium help stabilize blood pH. Both electrolytes are needed for stomach cells
to produce hydrochloric acid. Sodium deficiency can lead to low blood pressure,
problems with hormone synthesis, and indigestion.
Traces of the minerals chromium and vanadium play important roles in glucose
metabolism in the body. Both trace minerals have been shown to increase insulin
sensitivity and thus may play a very important role in insulin resistance and type 2
diabetes. Magnesium is required for three critical enzymatic reactions in glucose
metabolism: pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and fructose 1,6 bisphosphatase. In addition, magnesium plays a key enzymatic role in various hormones that have a regulatory role in gluconeogenesis, namely, insulin,
glucagon, adrenaline, and cortisol. Magnesium deficiency can adversely affect the
functionality and production of pancreatic hormones, primarily insulin and
glucagon.
11 Chemical Composition and Nutritional Properties of Functional Food
oxygen (67%), followed by silicon (28%) and aluminum (8%). The remaining 1%
of the elements in the human body (with the exception of sulfur) are inorganic or
mineral constituents of the body. The seven remaining elements: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine together represent
0.9% of human weight. Seventeen others make up the remaining 0.1%, some, but
not all, of which are considered essential in the diet. These elements occur in measurable concentrations but do not perform essential biological functions. Cadmium
is one such example. A newborn baby does not have these elements but gradually
accumulates cadmium by eating and breathing, to the extent that during his life, the
average person living in an industrial area accumulates milligrams of this element.
Not only does cadmium have no essential function in our body, but it is even an
undesirable element and potentially harmful. Minerals are extremely effective catalysts for all cellular functions. Some minerals work by increasing the electrical
potential of cells. Other minerals act as metalloenzymes, which can then act as
enzyme reactors in cells, as signal transformers, and as message carriers. In the
human diet, minerals play a role in a number of key bodily functions. Disorders in
mineral activities and nutritional deficiency of any of the minerals are very common
and result in the occurrence of degenerative conditions.
Among the minerals, a group of primary electrolytes stands out, namely, sodium,
potassium, magnesium, sulfate, phosphate, calcium, and chloride. Internal relationships between individual minerals play a very important role in the way enough
energy is produced by the body’s cells. For example, the ratio of sodium to potassium is primary for the electrical conductivity of the cell membrane. Most often,
this ratio is used (in various ways) to identify the function of adrenal activity, digestion, and hormone synthesis. The mineral magnesium is an essential activator for
more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. It must be present for the body to
produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the main intracellular energy storage or biological energy. Magnesium is known to be required for glucose metabolism and is necessary for a normal insulin response. It is also needed to reduce
excessive sympathetic stress, for normal bowel function, and for bone health. It has
been shown that when phosphorus levels are reduced, calcium is usually precipitated from body fluids and can accumulate in body tissues. The electrolytes chloride
and sodium help stabilize blood pH. Both electrolytes are needed for stomach cells
to produce hydrochloric acid. Sodium deficiency can lead to low blood pressure,
problems with hormone synthesis, and indigestion.
Traces of the minerals chromium and vanadium play important roles in glucose
metabolism in the body. Both trace minerals have been shown to increase insulin
sensitivity and thus may play a very important role in insulin resistance and type 2
diabetes. Magnesium is required for three critical enzymatic reactions in glucose
metabolism: pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and fructose 1,6 bisphosphatase. In addition, magnesium plays a key enzymatic role in various hormones that have a regulatory role in gluconeogenesis, namely, insulin,
glucagon, adrenaline, and cortisol. Magnesium deficiency can adversely affect the
functionality and production of pancreatic hormones, primarily insulin and
glucagon.
11 Chemical Composition and Nutritional Properties of Functional Food