Boron (B): Boron serves to improved antibody production and participates in development and maintenance of the bones. Dietary excess could cause vomiting, diarrhoea, head- and stomach pains, and muscular spasm. 

Man daily gets 10-20 mg boron through the food, primarily from cheese and vegetables.

Calcium (Ca): Calcium is among others necessary for the development of bones and teeth. It is important for the nervous system and the muscular functions, and for certain metabolic reactions as well as for the blood’s ability to coagulate.

Calcium deficiency can show by painful muscular spasms, intolerance, destruction of the bone tissue (osteoporosis), or chronically changes of the hair, the nails, and teeth.

Too much calcium is rarely seen. But it could possibly result in dullness, constipation, too low blood pressure and psychological problems.

Dairy products have a high calcium content (f.inst. skimmed milk: 123 mg/100 g, Parmesan cheese: 1290 mg/100 g), crabs (100 mg/100 g) and curly cale (212 mg/  100 g).

Chromium (Cr): Chromium has by it’s effect on insulin an essential influence on the body’s sugar- and carbohydrate metabolism. It stabilizes the blood sugar balance and ensures that the body gets optimal supply of amino acids as well as have a controlling influence on the appetite.

Chromium deficiency may result in increased cholesterol in the blood and lead to arteriosclerosis and growth disturbances.

Oversupply of chromium normally show by allergic skin reactions and a tendency to eczema and boils.

Especially rich in chromium are different cheese types, meat (f.inst. beef 14 mg/ 100 g), whole grain bread, potatoes (33 mg/100 g), nuts (f.inst. hazelnuts 14 mg/ 100 g), and flower honey (29 mg/100 g).

Cobalt  (Co): Cobalt is a central construction stone for vitamin B12 and participates as such in the formation of the red blood corpuscles. Furthermore, it is a vital trace element for certain enzyme reactions by the production of proteins.

A shortage of cobalt may lead to vitamin B12 loss and result in anaemia.

A surplus may lead to damage of the heart musculature.

Cobalt is found in larger amounts in meat (f.inst. calf liver 10.5 mg/100 g), fish (f.inst.flounder 6 mg/100 g), grain (f.inst.oats 8.5 mg/100 g), pears (15 mg/100 g), and peanuts (37 mg/100 g).

Iron (Fe): Iron is part of the red blood corpucles. Iron’s most important function is to transport oxygen in the blood and further to the muscles. Furthermore, iron is important for the formation of various substances, which contributes to vital body functions. Vitamin C contributes to the ability of absorbing iron.

Insufficient supplies of iron could lead to faintness, loss of appetite and a general indisposition. Shortage in iron causes anaemia with a reduced amount of red blood corpucles and haemoglobin in the blood. Infants and young people in the puberty age as well as women during menstruation or pregnancy are in risk of suffering from iron shortage.

In certain situations (f.inst. by ingesting too many iron preparations and alcohol) too much iron may lead to brown discoloured skin and functional disturbances in inner organs, as well as result in negative psychological changes.

Iron are especially found in crayfish, poultry, (f.inst. patridge 8.0 mg/100 g) and grain products (f.inst. wheat seed flakes 9.0 mg/100 g).

Potassium (K): Potassium is necessary for the regulation of the pressure relation in the cells of the body, as well as for the nervous system and the muscles. Furthermore it activates the carbohydrate metabolism.

Shortage of potassium can be seen in cases of fierce diarrhoea or vomiting and cause blood pressure drop, damages to the heart musculature, muscle weakening, loss of appetite, and irregular pulse.

Prolonged surplus of potassium could lead to disturbances in the muscle functions, circulatory collapse, irregular heart rhythm and later on to heart failure.

Rich potassium sources are fish and meat (f.inst. trouts 470 mg/100 g, hare 400 mg/100 g), leguminous fruits (f.inst. beans 1.5 g/100 g) soy flour (2.1 g/ 100 g) and vegetables (f.inst. spinach 6.3 g/100 g).

.

Copper  (Cu): Copper participates in the formation of the read blood corpucles and in the absorption and utilization of iron. It therefore has influence on the oxygen supply. As a component of various enzymes and most of the antibodies, copper is of importance for the adrenaline metabolism and the preservation of the body’s immune system.

Copper deficiency may result in anaemia, disturbances of the ability to absorb iron, as well as weakening of the body’s immune defence. In case of shortage furthermore heart- and circulatory disorders, changing moods, as well as neurological problems. Surplus of copper has a poisoning effect.

Copper is found in corn products (f.inst. buckwheat 900 mg/100 g), seeds and nuts (f.inst. Cashew nuts 3.7 g/100 g), dried yeast (5.0 g/100 g) and mushrooms (f.inst. dried chanterelles 4.9 mg/100 g).

Magnesium  (Mg): Magnesium forms part of approximately 300 enzymes and is important for the metabolism. It is vital for the function of muscles, nerves, bones, teeth, and the connective tissue. Furthermore, it participates in the blood’s ability to coagulate.

Shortage of magnesium could lead to dizziness, unconsciousness, restlessness, quivering, heart- and circulatory disorders, loss of weight, concentration problems, lapse of memory, muscular spasm, and loss of the ability to co-ordinate.

For healthy people a surplus of magnesium is harmless.

Especially rich magnesium sources are crayfish, corn products (f.inst. millet 170 mg/100 g, nuts (f.inst. Cashew nut 267 mg/100 g), and leguminous fruits (f.inst. kidney beans 180 mg/100 g).

Manganese (Mn): Manganese activates enzymes and forms part of numerous enzymes. It is important for the bone structure and contributes to the regulation of fat and the carbohydrate metabolism. As antioxidant it is important for detoxification of the body and for the immune system.

With a normal, varied diet deficiencies of manganese is very rare. High manganese levels do not seem to have any negative effect as long as this is equalized by other minerals (f.inst. chromium) from natural sources.

Corn products have a large content of manganese (f.inst. oats 3.7 mg/100 g), leguminous fruits (f.inst. Soya beans 2.8 mg/100 g), and mushrooms.

Molybdenum  (Mo): Many enzymes contains molybdenum or are activated by it. Molybdenum is important for the metabolism regulation and protects against dental caries.

Shortage of molybdenum increases the occurrence of dental caries and the danger of heart- and breathing disturbances, as well as of nausea and vomiting. Too high levels of molybdenum is very rare, but a consequence could perhaps be arthritis.

Molybdenum is found in hens’ eggs (49 mg/100 g), corn (f.inst. wheat seeds 100 mg/100 g), soy flour (180 mg/100 g) and vegetables (f.inst. peas 70 mg/100 g and kidney beans).

Sodium  (Na): Sodium regulates the body’s liquid balance, i.e. the liquid pressure. It is impor-tant for the absorption of sugar and protein, and is vital for the muscle- and nervous functions. Sodium stimulates important metabolic processes.

Under normal circumstances sodium deficiency only appear in case of heavy sweating, vomiting, continuous diarrhoea, and consumption of dehydrating drugs. Low levels of natrium may result in depression, weakening, and later on confusion, seizures, blood pressure drop and muscular spasms.

Too high sodium levels on the other hand could result in headache, oedema, as well as heart- and kidney damages, and if running in the family it could also lead to increased blood pressure.

Sodium is first and foremost found in our food as salt.

Nickel  (Ni): Nickel strengthens the hormone system (f.inst. insulin). Many people suffer  from allergic reactions from contact with f.inst. nickel rich jewellery, buttons and zips. In combination with carbon dioxide it can be carcinogenic (smokers, the nickel industry).

Rich nickel sources are different types of cheese, corn products (f.inst. oats 210 mg/100 g), vegetables (f.inst. beans 280 mg/100 g, peas 180 mg/100 g), nuts (f.inst. “Pekan”nuts 1500 mg/100 g), and black tea (650 mg/100 g).

Phosphorus   (P): Phosphorus is essential for healthy bones and the energy metabolism. As a  construction stone for lecithine it is important for the heart- and nervous activities. It is present in the cells’ inheritance genetics DNA.

Low phosphorus levels can be seen as a result of too much medicine and could lead to muscle weakening, osteoporosis, and later on to rachitic.

On the other hand could long term consumption of phosphorus result in sclerosis of the kidneys.   

Phosphorus is present in larger amounts in skimmed milk (1020 mg/100 g), cheese for cooking (1200 mg/100 g) and wheat bran (1240 mg/100 g).

Selenium  (Se): Selenium is a component of various enzymes. It reduces the effect of toxic heavy metals, and protects fatty acids against destruction, as well as removes harmful hydrogen peroxide. It has a protective effect against cancer.

Symptoms of deficiency could be heart- and circulatory diseases, weakened immune system, liver damages, muscular dystrophy, and loss of mental abilities.

Too much selenium could be damaging (dental caries, loss of hair, overreaction in the stomach-/intestional system.

Various meat products have a high selenium content (f.inst. pig’s liver 58 mg/ 100g, beef 22 mg/100g), fish (f.inst. flounder 65 mg/100g, eel 47 mg/100g, red-fish 44 mg/100g), shellfish (f.inst. lobster 130 mg/100g), and soya beans (60 mg/ 100g).

Silicon  (Si): Silicon is important for the elasticity and strength of the blood vessels. It influences the growth of the hair and nails, as well as the immune defence.

Shortage of silicon may result in weakened bone tissue, gum inflammation, dental caries, and loss of hair.

Too much silicon is not known to have any harmful effect on human beings, except from incidents of porous “silicon implants”.

Rich silicon sources are corn products (f.inst. oats 425 mg/100 g, barley 188 mg/ 100g), vegetables (f.inst. parsley 12 mg/100g), and bananas (8 mg/100g).

Vanadium  (V): Vanadium forms part of many enzymes and participates in the construction of the bones and teeth. It impedes formation of cholesterol.

Deficiencies have not been detected. A surplus of vanadium, which f.inst. may be seen in the metallic industries, could lead to asthma, pneumonia or skin eczema and could cause damage to the nervous tissue, blood corpucles, blood vessels, kidneys, liver and the growth.

Vanadium is found in various vegetable oils (sunflower oil 41 mg/100 g, olive oil 22.5-38 mg/100 g, peanut oil 11.5 mg/100 g).

Wolfram  (W): In the industries Wolfram is used in the production of steel and colours and paint. Wolfram is stored in the organism in the liver and the kidneys.

Too high or too low levels are apparently without any consequence for human beings.

Zinc   (Zn): Zinc stimulates the immune system (stabilizer for the cell membranes) and the protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Zinc has significance for the muscular growth. Zinc controls the production of insulin and participates in the transformation of keratine, which is of importance for the skin, hair, and nails. Zinc also helps in wound healing.

Low zinc levels could result in weakened immune defence, metabolism- and growth disturbances, loss of hair, skin lesions, and slow wound healing, loss of smell and taste, as well as psychological disorders (anorexia, post partum depression, concentration problems and poor memory). 

High levels could lead to gastrointestinal problems, anaemia, and weakened immune defence.

Cheese has a high zinc level (f.inst. 45% cheese 6.0 mg/100 g), furthermore crayfish (f.inst. river crayfish 2.4 mg/100 g), and fish (f.inst. swordfish 1.7 mg/ 100 g), and meat (f.inst. sirloin 4.1 mg/100 g), corn (f.inst. rye seeds 20.9 mg/ 100 g), and dried yeast (20 mg/100 g).

Tin  (Sn): Tin is toxic, yet essential. household appliences and also in fluoridated tooth-paste. Tin is important for the growth.

Too much tin may f.inst. cause indisposition and muscular weakness.

Aluminium  (Al): Aluminium salts are used in certain medicines. Inhalation of aluminium dust may cause diseases in the underlying respiratory passages. High values result in physical and mental problems, as well as weakening of the bones and the immune defence.

Arsen  (As):  compounds are found in rat poison, colouring agents, insecticides, and metals.

Arsenic is cancer-causing. A chronic arsenic poisoning causes inflammation in the facial area and later on skin cancer. Acute poisoning leads to inflammation  in the skin and mucous membranes, gastrointestinal colic, vomiting, diarrhoea, liver damages, and could later due to shock or kidney failure develop potentially fatal.

Lead (Pb): Lead is found in old water pipes, colouring agents, and lead containing petrol. It is used in the metalic-, ceramic-, and glass industry. Acute lead poisoning are not seen very often, but the continuous absorption of small amounts is extremely dangerous. Storage of lead in the bones, teeth, internal organs, the nervous system, and the brain may lead to weariness, loss of appetite, loss of weight, hyper activity in case of children, and reduced intelligence. Chronic poisoning may  result in damaged organs (first and foremost kidneys, testicles, gastrointestinal system), sterility, restlessness, sleeplessness, as well as depression and hallucinations. 

Cadmium  (Cd): Cadmium impact is widespread through industrial pollution and exhaust fumes. Often high concentrations are found in sludge. There is a risk of accumulation in animal’s internal organs and in vegetation (especially mushrooms). The industry uses cadmium especially for the production of PVC, as corrosion protection of car bodies and as electrode material in batteries. Cadmium is absorbed quickly in the organism, but is only released again at a very slow pace.  

In case of cronical cadmium poisoning symptoms are fatigue, loss of smell, inflammation in the muscous membranes (a” cadmium cold”), damage to the kidneys and liver, as well as bone- and rheumatic pains. Cadmium is carcinogenic.

Palladium  (Pd): Palladium is like platinum in structure and is being used in dental filling alloys. Palladium may cause contact dermatitis. Very often palladium- and nickel allergies appear simultaneously. High levels could lead to increased body temperature and perhaps also to weight loss.

Mercury  (Hg): Mercury is an important constituent in dental fillings and furthermore in stain-, colouring-, and explosive admixtures, as well as in disinfectants. Fish and all marine animals contain mercury. All mercury compounds are poisonous as well as the metal in itself. Mercury strains show by weariness, head- and joint pains, cystitis, inflammation of the gums resulting in loss of teeth. In severe cases anxiety, moodiness, shaking hands, elation, speech disorders, and change of personality are observed.