Minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to work properly. We need them in the form they are found in food.

Minerals can be found in varying amounts, in a variety of foods, such as meat, cereals (including cereal products such as bread), fish, milk and dairy foods, vegetables, fruit (especially dried fruit) and nuts.

It is difficult to create a deficiency of any nutrient when a wide range of foods are consumed.  However, a deficiency or other complex interaction can result if large quantities of isolated nutrients are consumed.