Why are minerals not sources of energy for the body?

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USDA MyPlate dietary guidelines — human nutrition MyPlate, a revised set of dietary guidelines introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2011, divides the four basic food groups (fruits, grains, protein, and vegetables) into sections on a plate, the size of each section representing the relative dietary proportions of each food group. The small blue circle shown at the upper right illustrates the inclusion and recommended proportion of dairy products in the diet.

Minerals are not sources of energy for the body because they are simple, inorganic elements rather than complex organic compounds like carbohydrates, lipids, or proteins. Unlike energy-yielding nutrients, minerals are not metabolized by the body to produce fuel.1

While they do not provide calories, minerals are essential for life and play a critical role in the body's energy-releasing processes. They function as vital components of enzyme systems and are constituents of various organic molecules, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the primary high-energy molecule used by cells. Additionally, minerals serve many other physiological functions, including maintaining fluid balance, supporting nerve transmission, and providing structural integrity to bones and teeth.12