Blog - Functional and nutrition dairy ingredients | Armor Protéines

What are milk minerals?

Written by Marine Calbrix | Aug 26, 2021 12:54:47 PM

Milk consists of several elements. Water makes up most of it, followed by carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals that are essential for the proper functioning of our bodies. Thus, one liter of milk contains between 7 and 8 grams of these minerals (0.8%).

Essential minerals

As the body does not manufacture them, the minerals must be brought in through food. While calcium is best known, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium are also found in milk, each of which is useful for the body and metabolism.

  • Calcium (118 mg. per 100 g. of whole milk): one of the components of bones and teeth, it plays a role in muscle contraction, the transmission of nerve impulses and blood coagulation.
  • Magnesium (10.6 mg. per 100 g. of whole milk): one of the components of bones, it contributes to metabolic reactions.
  • Potassium (150 mg. per 100 g. of whole milk): found in cells, it contributes to the spread of nerve impulses and muscle contraction.
  • Phosphorus (93 mg. per 100 g. of whole milk): one of the components of bones and teeth, found in cells.

Other minerals can also be found in smaller quantities in milk, such as iron, chloride or sodium. In addition, trace elements, minerals representing less than 0.01% of body mass, are also essential to the body. Zinc, selenium and fluoride take part in hormonal functioning or help combat fatigue.

Benefits at any age

Minerals represent about 4% of body weight, they are necessary to the body throughout its life span and even more so for certain categories of people. First, minerals are essential for infant growth and good health because they play an important role in skeletal and cell development. This is why infant formulas are studied to offer the concentrations appropriate to its needs.

Seniors’ diets must be reinforced with minerals to prevent bone disorders and risks of fracture. Finally, sport nutritionists value them very highly because they promote muscle contraction, hydration and the transport of the nervous message from the brain to the muscles.

Due to its natural composition, milk contains many minerals essential for the proper functioning of the body. Armor Protéines provides its customers with all its know-how in the nutritional enhancement of these milk minerals, particularly calcium.