Some of the same minerals that reinforce metal buildings and support the tallest mountains are crucial to human life. Minerals are necessary for good health and disease prevention. They are present in different types of foods, and eating a varied, nutritious diet is generally sufficient. In addition, most minerals are fairly indestructible and lose little nutritional value during storage and cooking.

Major minerals, such as calcium, are present in our bodies in amounts up to 3 pounds. The total of other trace minerals, however, is a scant half-ounce, or the weight of three quarters. While minerals are important, getting substantially more than the recommended amount may be dangerous.

To learn more about minerals, use the Minerals Guide at the top of this page.

Understanding Mineral Terminology

1. RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) is the intake that meets the nutrient needs of almost all healthy individuals.
2. AI (Adequate Intake) is the average daily intake by a defined population or subgroup that appears to sustain a defined nutritional status.