In addition to other nutrients, our body needs many minerals to function normally. We call these essential minerals. They are divided into macro- and microminerals. Both groups are equally important, but macrominerals are needed in larger quantities (more than 100 mg/day), while microminerals are only needed in smaller quantities (less than 100 mg/day). Macrominerals are calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and sulfur. Iron, zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, iodine, fluorine, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium and cobalt are among the microminerals. We also need arsenic, boron, nickel and silicon in small quantities. A varied diet is the easiest way to cover the daily needs for essential minerals. The total mineral content is determined as the determination of ash content, while the content of individual minerals can be determined by complexometric titration, colorimetrically, atomic absorption or emission spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Using the latter technique, I determined the content of individual minerals in green and red kale. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is used as a sensitive technique for metals and multiple non-metals in liquid samples at very low concentrations (ng to pg range).
I compared the obtained results with data from the literature. I concluded that the contents given in the literature refer to curly red kale. The values of mineral concentrations in curly red and curly green kale follow this order from highest to lowest: Ca, K, Mg, Na, Fe and Zn, which corresponds to the data from the literature.
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