Minerals are involved in numerous body functions and unlike vitamins most people might not be very familiar with them. Minerals are inorganic elemental atoms or ions and unlike carbohydrates, protein and fat, minerals are not changed during digestion or when the body uses them and are not destroyed by heat, light or alkalinity and play many essential roles in our bodies, for example minerals maintain fluid balances, blood pH, nerve transmission and muscle function. Some of these minerals are needed in larger quantities (macro minerals) whilst others are only needed in smaller or trace amounts (micro minerals) by the body.