Element

(symbol)

Functions

Food Sources

Calcium

(Ca)

major structural component of bones and teeth; necessary for many enzymes, including those of blood clotting, muscle contraction and conduction of nerve impulses

milk, cheese, bread and flour (if fortified),cereals, green vegetables

Chlorine

(Cl)

major negative ion (as chloride,C1") in body fluids; present in stomach secretions as hydrochloric acid (HCl)

main source is salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) used in food processing, cooking,and at the table

Iron

(Fe)

essential for haemoglobin to transport oxygen to human tissue and store/release oxygen for energy in muscles

present as (more readily absorbed) haeme iron in red meat, fish and poultry otherwise as non-haeme iron in legumes and dark green leafy vegetables

Magnesium

(Mg)

present in bone, inside cells and in body fluids; needed for some enzymes

Nuts, green leafy vegetables, potatoes, milk, bread and other cereal products

Phosphorus

present in bones and teeth; essential for ATP and DNA and many other molecules

milk, cheese, bread and cereals, meat and meat products, nuts

Potassium

(K)

main positive ion inside cells; K+ also present in extracellular fluids; essential for conduction of nerve impulses, also for the maintenance of ion concentration gradients across cell membranes

widely distributed in vegetables, meat, milk, fruit and fruit juices

Selenium

(Na)

a mineral which is a natural anti-oxidant for the human body                        

present in most foods of western countries with selenium rich soil, particularly present in brazil nuts, liver, seafood

Sulfur

(S)

present in protein

main source is salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) used in food processing, cooking, and at the table