Minerals are inorganic (non-living) compounds that are important for your good health. Minerals have various jobs such as helping to build strong bones and teeth and monitoring the amount of fluids inside and outside of the cells. They also help turn the foods you eat into the type of energy your body can use.
Minerals are not made by living things but come from the soil. The minerals found in plant foods are absorbed from the soil in which they are grown.The mineral content of plant foods can vary widely based on the quality of the soil in which the plants were grown.
The animals that we consume obtain their minerals from the minerals contained in the plants they eat. So the quality of the animal's diet determines the quality of the animal food.
There are two types of essential minerals: major minerals and trace minerals. Trace minerals are required in smaller amounts than major minerals. However, both types of minerals are essential and support important functions in the body.