Iron – Important Element that is necessary for purifying blood
Iron is a mineral found in every cell of the body. Iron is considered an essential mineral because it is needed to make part of blood cells. The hemoglobin content of red blood cells is made up of certain proteins and iron. The normal body of an adult contains about 4 to 5 g of iron.
Iron stores in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. Small amounts of iron are found in the muscles as myoglobin, as also in the blood serum and in every cell as a constituent of certain enzymes. the stores of iron as well as the iron released from the disintegration of red blood cells available to the body for the synthesis of hemoglobin.
The main sites of absorption are the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. Absorption of iron is enhanced when there is deficiency of iron in the body or there is need for increased blood formation. Iron is excreted along with the bile, stools, scaling of the skin, and sweating. It is important to take an extra quantity of iron-rich foods during summer to compensate the iron loss.
Hemoglobin is composed of four iron-containing heme groups. The heme is responsible for the characteristic color and the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Myoglobin is an oxygen carrying protein containing iron in the muscle tissue is related to blood hemoglobin in both structure and function.
FUNCTION OF IRON IN HUMAN BODY
- Iron is necessary for production of hemoglobin.
- Iron is necessary for brain development and function.
- Iron enables the blood to carry oxygen throughout the body and helps in removing carbon dioxide from tissues.
- Iron increases resistance to stress and disease.
- Iron aids growth and prevents fatigue.
- Iron forms an important part of many proteins and enzymes that help the human body function efficiently.
CAUSES OF IRON DEFICIENCY IN HUMAN BODY
Iron deficiency is caused by:
- Severe blood loss.
- Malnutrition.
- Infections.
- Excessive use of drugs and chemicals.
Severe blood loss can occur due to:
- major injury to blood vessels.
- rupture of aneurysms.
- perforation of internal organs.
- incomplete abortion.
- severe menstrual bleeding.
- repeated pregnancies.
- prolonged breast feeding.
- excessive sweating also reduce the iron content .
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS OF IRON IN HUMAN BODY
- Nutritional anemia.
- Lower resistance to disease.
- General run down condition.
- Pale complexion.
- Shortness of breath.
- Loss of interest in sex.
- Mental depression and irritability.
- Mind becomes dull.
FOOD SOURCES RICH IN IRON
- Whole grain cereals.
- Pulses and legumes.
- Fish.
- Green leafy vegetables such as dry lotus stems, cauliflower greens, turnip greens.
- Fruits like black currants, water melons, raisins, and dried dates.
- Enzymes and hydrochloric acid in stomach are needed for proper assimilation of iron.
- Seeds like almonds and brazil nuts.
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Categories: Advantages of Fruits and Vegetables, Anemia, benefits, Blood, Body, causes, Deficiency, Iron Tags: Blood, Body, causes, Cells, Deficiency, Element, Food, Functions, growth, Haemoglobin, health, Healthy, Hemoglobin, Important, Iron, Mineral, Necessary, proteins, Pure, Purifying, Sources, Symptoms, Tissues
Manganese – an important mineral for the growing years.
The nutritional importance of manganese was discovered in 1936-37. Manganese (MN) is an essential trace mineral that plays and important part in normal brain functioning. Manganese is found in body as a trace element and is essential for life. The human body contains 10 to 20 mg of this element which is widely distributed throughout the tissues. It is found in high concentration in the mitochondria of cells.
Manganese is a hard, brittle, grayish-white metallic element. It is readily oxidized and forms an important component of certain alloys. If manganese is breathed in excess, in the form of dust or fumes, it can lead to a condition very much like Parkinson’s disease wherein tremors develop in the hands and fingers.
Only 3 to 4 percent of the manganese present in the diet is absorbed from the intestine and reaches the blood. It is stored in the blood and liver. Serum manganese levels are almost always elevated following a myocardial infraction. Manganese is excreted in the feces. The urine contains only traces of this element.
FUNCTIONS OF MANGANESE IN BODY
- Necessary for the functioning of the brain.
- An antioxidant.
- Required for the metabolism of energy.
- Involved in the metabolism of calcium.
- In combination with choline, it helps in digestion and utilization of fat.
- Manganese helps to nourish the nerves.
- Manganese is involved in normal reproduction and the function of mammary glands.
- Manganese is necessary for building proteins and nucleic acid.
- Manganese is necessary for normal bone structure.
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS OF MANGANESE IN BODY
- Retarded growth.
- Digestive disorders.
- Abnormal bone development and deformities.
- Male and female sterility.
- Sexual impotence in men.
- Poor memory.
- Dermatitis.
- Fatigue.
- Menstrual problems.
FOOD SOURCES OF MANGANESE
- Nuts
- Whole grains
- Dried legumes
- Green leafy vegetables.
- Whole wheat breads.
- Cereals.
Manganese is used in the following conditions epilepsy, alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, myasthenia gravis, anemia, diabetes, heart disease, atherosclerosis and arthritis.