Dietary minerals are chemical elements required by living organisms. They can be either bulk minerals (required in relatively large amounts) or trace minerals (required only in very small amounts). Appropriate intake levels of each dietary mineral must be sustained to maintain physical health. Excessive intake of a dietary mineral may either directly lead to illness or indirectly because of the competitive nature between mineral levels in the body. For example, large does of zinc are not really harmful unto themselves, but will lead to copper deficiency.