Sure, they’re convenient, But the trouble with fast foods is that they tend to be mineral-deficient. The richest mineral sources are by and large, whole-grain products and fresh fruits and vegetables with emphasis on the word “fresh”. Foods that are refined and processed can suffer a significant reduction in their mineral content.

The precise way minerals help you as to do with their interplay with enzymes. Enzymes are proteins made by the body that help with everything from building tissue to fighting disease to speeding messages through networks of nerves. Each one has an important and highly specific job to do. But most enzymes are dormant by nature. They need the right minerals to act on them, switch the on and get them working.

We’re not talking about mega-amounts: Consider that the recommended daily intake for all minerals adds up to less than 1 percent of the nutrients in a well balanced diet. Small, but crucial. So if you’re too pissed for time to pay attention to your diet, take a multivitamin that contains all the minerals a man needs. It beats robbing your body of what it needs by chowing down on fast food for the rest of your life.