The question of whether mineral salts are necessary for animals and humans is necessarily asked by all students in the fifth grade, in a biology class. After all, they should know that in the body of any living creature, in addition to all the known elements, such as fats, proteins and carbohydrates, various mineral substances must be contained . Otherwise, various diseases dangerous to the human body can occur.
What are the mineral salts
The human and animal organisms contain a huge number of various salts, which include calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium.
All these minerals in large quantities are absorbed by plants from the earth, and then through plant food, they enter the organisms of living creatures, such as humans and animals. In total, there are about sixty elements in the body of one person, but only twenty-two belong to the main category.
What are the benefits of mineral salts
At schools in biology classes, the question of whether mineral salts are necessary for animals and humans is very popular. Grade 5 is considered the optimal time to start thinking and searching for answers to this question, since it is believed that the child can already begin to reason logically and guess why it is necessary for the body to receive one or another mineral substance.
So, do animals and humans need mineral salts or not? Of course, they are needed, because it is these salts that support the required acid-base balance in all living organisms, due to which water-salt metabolism occurs. In addition, thanks to mineral salts, the body needs the support of all its systems.
It is thanks to minerals that blood formation and blood coagulation processes take place. These substances are actively involved in the construction of the skeleton, muscles and all internal organs of a living organism. Since the normal functioning of the body requires a constant exchange of mineral salts, their use in food is mandatory.
What happens with a lack of minerals?
It would seem that the answer to the question whether mineral salts are necessary for animals and humans has already been received. But it is worth discussing the situations that can occur when there is insufficient mineral salts in the human or animal body. A similar disadvantage leads to serious, severe diseases. For example, if the body has a prolonged absence of ordinary table salt, nervous exhaustion may occur, as a result of which the heart will deteriorate.
If the body does not have enough calcium, brittle bones will be increased, and children are likely to develop rickets.
The reasons for the lack of mineral salts in the body of a living creature
Do not even think about whether animals and humans need mineral salts. The answer to this question will be obvious: of course, they are needed. But what if food enters the body regularly, at the hours set for its intake, and a lack of mineral salts is still observed?
The reasons for this shortcoming may be the following situations:
1. Poor, monotonous nutrition.
2. Bad water.
3. Region of residence.
4. The presence of various diseases, for example, ulcerative colitis.
5. Taking medication.
Mineral rich foods
We figured out whether animals and humans need mineral salts, but now we need to find out how the body can get them.
First of all, you need to pay attention to the balance of your diet. It is advisable to regularly eat plant foods, fish and red meat. It is also worth remembering that during the heat treatment of products, mineral substances do not disappear from them, but some can go into broths, so do not ignore and merge them.