Minerals In The Human Body
A Fertility → Pregnancy → Postpartum → Fetal Growth Lens
MAJOR (MACRO) MINERALS
Required in larger amounts (mg–g daily)
Calcium (Ca)
What it does
Builds bones and teeth
Enables muscle contraction and relaxation
Supports nerve signaling
Essential for blood clotting and hormone release
Why it’s necessary
Calcium maintains structural integrity of the skeleton and supports cellular communication. Without adequate calcium, the body pulls it from bones.
Fertility
Supports ovarian follicle development
Regulates uterine muscle tone
Works with vitamin D to improve egg quality
Pregnancy
Critical for fetal skeletal formation
Helps regulate maternal blood pressure
Reduces risk of preeclampsia
Postpartum
Prevents maternal bone depletion during breastfeeding
Supports uterine involution (return to pre-pregnancy size)
Helps stabilize nervous system and muscle recovery
Fetal Growth
Builds fetal bones and teeth
Supports heart rhythm and muscle movement
Magnesium (Mg)
What it does
Cofactor in 300+ enzymatic reactions
Regulates nervous system and muscle relaxation
Supports blood sugar control and ATP production
Why it’s necessary
Magnesium is the body’s calming mineral, crucial for energy production, stress resilience, and cellular repair.
Fertility
Improves insulin sensitivity (key for PCOS)
Supports progesterone production
Calms stress hormones that disrupt ovulation
Pregnancy
Reduces cramps, leg pain, and constipation
Helps prevent preterm contractions
Supports placental blood flow
Postpartum
Aids nervous system recovery
Supports sleep and stress regulation
Helps prevent postpartum anxiety and depression
Fetal Growth
Supports neuromuscular development
Assists in DNA and RNA synthesis
Sodium (Na)
What it does
Regulates fluid balance
Supports nerve impulses
Maintains blood pressure
Why it’s necessary
Sodium is essential for cellular hydration and circulation, especially in pregnancy when blood volume expands.
Fertility
Supports adrenal health
Necessary for hormone transport
Pregnancy
Maintains expanded blood volume
Prevents dizziness and fatigue
Supports placental circulation
Postpartum
Helps restore electrolyte balance
Supports milk production (breastmilk is sodium-rich early on)
Fetal Growth
Supports nutrient delivery via placenta
Potassium (K)
What it does
Regulates heart rhythm
Balances fluids with sodium
Supports muscle and nerve function
Why it’s necessary
Potassium protects cardiovascular and neuromuscular stability.
Fertility
Supports ovarian cell signaling
Improves metabolic health
Pregnancy
Helps prevent swelling and hypertension
Supports healthy heart rhythm
Postpartum
Restores fluid balance
Supports energy and muscle recovery
Fetal Growth
Essential for muscle and nerve development
Phosphorus (P)
What it does
Builds bones and teeth
Forms ATP (energy currency)
Essential for DNA/RNA
Why it’s necessary
Phosphorus fuels cell division, growth, and repair.
Fertility
Supports egg and sperm DNA integrity
Pregnancy
Helps fetal skeletal and organ development
Postpartum
Supports tissue repair and milk production
Fetal Growth
Critical for cellular replication and bone growth
Chloride (Cl)
What it does
Maintains acid-base balance
Produces stomach acid (HCl)
Supports digestion
Why it’s necessary
Chloride ensures proper digestion and nutrient absorption.
Fertility
Improves nutrient bioavailability
Pregnancy
Supports digestion when stomach acid is often low
Postpartum
Helps restore digestive strength
Fetal Growth
Indirectly supports nutrient delivery
TRACE MINERALS
Needed in smaller amounts but absolutely critical
Iron (Fe)
What it does
Transports oxygen via hemoglobin
Supports mitochondrial energy
Required for immune function
Why it’s necessary
Iron fuels oxygen delivery, without which cells cannot function.
Fertility
Low iron impairs ovulation
Supports healthy uterine lining
Pregnancy
Prevents anemia
Supports placental oxygenation
Postpartum
Replenishes blood loss
Prevents fatigue and depression
Fetal Growth
Essential for brain development
Supports oxygen delivery to fetus
Zinc (Zn)
What it does
DNA synthesis and repair
Immune modulation
Hormone production
Why it’s necessary
Zinc is a reproductive mineral, deeply tied to cell division and hormone signaling.
Fertility
Improves egg and sperm quality
Regulates menstrual cycle
Pregnancy
Supports placental development
Reduces risk of growth restriction
Postpartum
Supports wound healing
Boosts immune resilience
Fetal Growth
Essential for organ and brain development
Copper (Cu)
What it does
Iron metabolism
Collagen and elastin formation
Antioxidant defense
Why it’s necessary
Copper supports circulation, connective tissue, and red blood cell formation.
Fertility
Supports implantation
Works with iron to prevent anemia
Pregnancy
Essential for fetal heart and nervous system
Postpartum
Supports tissue repair and elasticity
Fetal Growth
Critical for brain and cardiovascular development
Iodine (I)
What it does
Produces thyroid hormones (T3/T4)
Why it’s necessary
Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism, growth, and brain development.
Fertility
Regulates ovulation and cycle regularity
Pregnancy
Prevents miscarriage
Essential for fetal brain development
Postpartum
Supports milk iodine content
Regulates postpartum thyroid shifts
Fetal Growth
Crucial for neurological development
Selenium (Se)
What it does
Antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase)
Thyroid hormone conversion
Immune defense
Why it’s necessary
Selenium protects cells from oxidative stress.
Fertility
Improves egg and sperm quality
Pregnancy
Reduces risk of thyroid dysfunction
Postpartum
Protects against inflammation and mood disorders
Fetal Growth
Supports brain and immune development
Manganese (Mn)
What it does
Bone formation
Antioxidant enzyme activation
Carbohydrate metabolism
Why it’s necessary
Supports structural and metabolic development.
Fertility
Supports hormone synthesis
Pregnancy
Aids fetal skeletal development
Postpartum
Supports connective tissue repair
Fetal Growth
Required for cartilage and bone growth
Chromium (Cr)
What it does
Enhances insulin action
Why it’s necessary
Stabilizes blood sugar metabolism.
Fertility
Helpful for PCOS and insulin resistance
Pregnancy
Supports glucose regulation
Postpartum
Helps rebalance blood sugar
Fetal Growth
Supports metabolic programming
Molybdenum (Mo)
What it does
Detoxifies sulfites
Supports enzyme function
Why it’s necessary
Essential for metabolic detox pathways.
Fertility
Supports liver detox of hormones
Pregnancy
Assists nutrient metabolism
Postpartum
Supports recovery detoxification
Fetal Growth
Indirect metabolic support
ULTRA-TRACE MINERALS
Needed in very small amounts, still vital
Boron
Supports estrogen metabolism
Improves bone density
Enhances vitamin D utilization
Fertility: Hormone balance
Pregnancy: Bone health
Postpartum: Mineral retention
Fetal: Skeletal development
Silicon
Collagen formation
Skin, hair, connective tissue
Fertility: Uterine tissue health
Pregnancy: Skin elasticity
Postpartum: Tissue repair
Fetal: Structural support
Vanadium
Insulin-like activity
Fertility: Blood sugar support
Pregnancy: Metabolic regulation
Postpartum: Energy balance
Fetal: Indirect metabolic role
Nickel (trace)
Enzyme support
Minimal but supportive in metabolic pathways
KEY TAKEAWAY
Minerals are the physical foundation of life.
Vitamins initiate reactions, but minerals execute them.
For fertility → pregnancy → postpartum → fetal growth:
Minerals build structure
Minerals carry signals
Minerals hold energy
Minerals anchor hormones
