The Importance of Roles Elements in Life Processes

More than 30 elements have a key function in helping plants and animals live and to stay healthy. Elements combine with one another in diverse proportions to form everything from the air that we breathe? to the wood that we use to build our homes? to our own bodies.

Our bodies use diverse chemical elements for diverse functions. For instance? our bodies use calcium to build strong bones and fluorine makes our teeth healthier. As our bodies consume these elements through daily functioning? we have to replace them in order to stay healthy and strong (Kang; Johnson & Clark 140-145). Because some of us do not always eat the right foods? we sometimes have to take dietary supplements? such as vitamins? to assure that we maintain the right chemical balance in our bodies.

From hydrogen to lawrencium and carbon to gold? there are 103 basic elements identified that comprises all tangible matter. Scientists currently know 30 of these elements as factors for healthy plants? animals and humans (Maximov and Anchev pp. 1241-1251). These are the atoms that combine with one another in diverse proportions to form everything from the water we drink? the air that we breathe? the soils that all life ultimately depends? and our own bodies.

Plants? animals and humans use diverse chemical elements for diverse functions. For instance? our bodies use calcium to build strong bones; plants need calcium for cell walls. For a plant or animal to stay healthy? the supply of these elements must be replenished when consumed as part of daily functioning. The primary source of these elements for humans and animals is through the food they eat; for plants? from the soils through which their roots forage.

The amount and proportion of elements contained in food varies? as do our dietary choices? the food we eat may not provide sufficient amounts of these nutrients. To maintain the right chemical balance in our bodies? people often take dietary supplements. For pets and farm animals? minerals are added to prepared feeds or offered as mineral blocks.

Some of the more critical elements are mentioned in the following paragraphs. Those which are concerned toxic and have no positive function associated with them? have been omitted. Keep in mind? however? that even for elements important to sustain life; both excesses and deficiencies can have negative consequences. In everything? a right balance should be the goal.

Some of the main elements that our bodies employ to function appropriately are referred in the following paragraphs. Some surprising minor elements are also mentioned.

Aluminum (Al)

Until recently? aluminum was thought to be useless to life processes. It is now thought to be engaged in the action of a small number of enzymes. For a technical explanation: "it may be engaged in the action of enzymes such a succinic dehydrogenase and d-aminolevulinate dehydrase (engaged in porphyrin synthesis)." I have no idea what that means.

Arsenic (As)

Despite Arsenic's reputation as a highly toxic substance? this element may actually be important for good ...