Читать книгу The Vitamin Cure - Monte Lai - Страница 34

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen are the four big elements that make up about 96% of our bodies. Calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, and phosphorus are the five essential elements, while iron, zinc, manganese, copper, molybdenum, iodine, chromium, and selenium are eight essential trace elements in the human body. The body cannot produce essential elements; thus it needs to acquire them from food sources to maintain good health and well-being.

Essential elements are called “minerals” or “dietary minerals.” Minerals exist in rocks and the soil of the Earth’s crust. So far, there are 5,300 known minerals. Nevertheless, it is the pure chemical elements, such as calcium or phosphorus, rather than minerals like limestone or apatite that are needed to maintain optimal health. This book presents a new concept, using the term essential elements to replace minerals.