A healthy, balanced diet is essential to health, and well-being may be associated with the amount of vitamins we get from the food we eat. But did you know that our vitamins cannot be assimilated without the presence of minerals? Chronic disease and inflammation in the body can only be present in situations where mineral deficiencies exist.
“You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.” – Dr. Linus Pauling
“Without minerals, nothing else works. Amino acids and enzymes no longer work. Vitamins and other nutrients don’t get broken down and absorbed properly. This causes major deficiencies in both vitamins and minerals. The end result is a chain reaction of poor health where nothing works as it should… Supplementation, therefore, not only seems advisable, it is advisable!” – The Root of All Disease by E. G. Heinrich
Minerals are responsible for performing and keeping up all processes in the body, building and maintenance of bones and teeth, and converting the foods we eat into usable energy.
Although it’s true that some minerals consumed in large amounts can be toxic, conversely – if we are deficient in our overall mineral intake, our health performance can be severely compromised.
Chronic health conditions are often associated with mineral deficiencies – for instance, a lack of Vitamin D can inhibit proper absorption of calcium, and a lack of magnesium will prevent proper absorption of Vitamin D. On the other hand, too much of certain minerals can affect the absorption of others such as magnesium.
Here are 10 reasons to consume adequate minerals in our diet, and why they help maintain proper growth, development, and prevent of disease in the body:
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Promotes healthy hair, skin, and nails. Iodine keeps these systems in optimal condition.
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Supports a healthy digestive tract. Manganese keeps the digestive tract functioning and absorbing nutrients properly and zinc can prevent stomach ulcers and other related issues. Trace minerals also aid in digestive activity and provide the catalyst for many enzymes, hormones, and critical body functions and reactions.
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Maintains healthy joints, bones, and cartilage. Boron helps to avoid conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, calcium keeps joints from becoming stiff and sore and maintains bones and teeth, manganese keeps joints lubricated and assists in the formation of cartilage, and our teeth and bones contain 75 percent of total phosphorus in the body.
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Promotes healthy circulatory, breathing, and oxygen systems. Chromium, selenium, potassium, and magnesium are important for heart health, and potassium helps deliver oxygen to the brain. Deficiency can result in respiratory failure. Trace minerals are useful for oxygen transport to cells.
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Helps to maintain emotional and mental functions and well-being. Deficiencies in iodine, magnesium, copper, and boron can contribute to depression, ADHD, anxiety, memory problems, confusion, and irritability.
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Supports a healthy hormonal system – in males, zinc is critical in the male sex drive and is involved in hormone metabolism, sperm formation and sperm motility, and regulates thyroid function which governs the sex hormones in both genders.
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Maintains healthy levels of cholesterol – selenium and chrominum both lower cholesterol levels and help prevent cardiovascular disease.
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Keeps blood sugar levels normal – through proper insulin utilization, chromium maintains stable blood sugar levels. Maintaining normal stable blood sugar is important because high levels can damage the cells lining the arteries, which can cause circulation problems that may lead to clogged arteries.
- Enables the body to better absorb and metabolize nutrients. Manganese regulates metabolic processes, molybdenum aids in carbohydrate and fat metabolism, selenium regulates effects of thyroid hormones on fat metabolism, and chromium is involved in the metabolism of glucose and is vital in the breakdown of proteins, fats and cholesterol. Iodine aids in the burning of exess fat by stimulating the rate of metabolism. Magnesium is necessary for calcium, Vitamin C and Vitamin D absorption.
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Promotes the growth and replication of cells in the body. Zinc is useful in cell metabolism and biotin helps in cell growth.
Real food sources of important minerals:
- Grassfed meats
- Pastured poultry and eggs
- Cod liver oil
- Safe-sourced seafood
- Organic vegetables and fruits
- Organic grains that are soaked, sprouted and/or fermented
- Fermented foods and beverages
- Bone broths
Why can’t we get all the minerals we need from the foods we eat?
The way in which foods are produced and processed in commercial and factory-farming environments in modern times depleted and strips out valuable nutrients. In fact, mineral depletion our our soils nationwide is as high as 85 percent. Although it is important to obtain as many nutrients as possible from real foods, it also is critical to supplement important minerals we aren’t getting adequate amounts of in our diet.
Sourcing your food from healthy soil
It is important to seek out sources of real food from farmers you know and trust who are dedicated to creating the most mineral-rich and healthy soil possible. Listen to this interview with August Dunning and Dr. Mercola on bringing minerals back into the soil and food supply.
“A 1992 study by the Earth Summit Report indicated that farm soils have been depleted over the past 100 years. Scientists have also discovered that our bodies require the trace minerals that used to be found in the foods we eat. And healthcare professionals report that 95% of the body’s daily functions rely on minerals.”
Of course, a healthy diet including organic, sustainable foods from natural sources is very important and should be the basis of health. The right nutritional supplements help to fill in the gaps where our diets leave off. They are also useful in aiding our bodies in the continual process of detoxification and removal of harmful substances from our cells and tissues which can cause health problems.
Try the following trace/liquid minerals to prevent future occurrence of illness, and improve overall quality of health:
Fulvic ionic minerals from Optimally Organic. Fulvic acid is a class of humic shale, which is an American version of Shilajit. Our Fulvic Trace Minerals contains a rich blend of organic compounds which are found naturally in the soil. Amazingly, our fulvic acid product contains a treasure chest full of 77 trace minerals in their original ionic composition. Some of these minerals are the valuable electrolytes and amino acids that help our bodies function properly.
Fulvic Minerals 400X concentrate. Fulvic Supercharges Nutrient Absorption and Delivery to the Cell of nutrients from food, supplements, and the baseline vitamins, amino acids, phytonutrients, and macro, micro, and trace minerals, electrolytes, and elements that Fulvic naturally carries. Fulvic is NATURE’S OWN Nutrient Transport and Delivery System to the Cells! Fulvic molecules act like “mini-batteries” providing electrons to help charge cell membranes and support cell membrane dynamics for optimal cellular function. When cells and cell membranes are fully charged, nutrients are absorbed more easily into cells. Nutrients must be absorbed into cells to be used in the biochemical processes that support life. These processes only occur INSIDE the cells. Also, acidic waste products produced in normal biochemical processes can build-up when the cell membrane dynamics are not functioning well. This can significantly impair cellular function and health. Fulvic also provides electrons that help restore or optimize cellular energetics – especially in the mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse, so the mitochondria can produce the energy we need for life and vitality.
The Gift, fulvic and super-concentrate minerals. Fulvic and Humic naturally carry a baseline of up to 74+ minerals including the trace minerals and elements. They also transport vitamins, amino acids, and phytonutrients. Humic and Fulvic increase nutrient absorption and delivery of nutrients to the cell. They also provide electrons to charge cell membranes and help restore cellular energetics and membrane dynamics, nutrients flow in and waste is eliminated more easily. Humic is especially beneficial in the GI tract and digestive health, it supports healthier microbial flora and fauna, helps restore and maintain a healthier fluid and electrolyte balance in the body, improves bowel function, and more.
Minerals for health are important, especially for anyone who is chronically ill or experiencing ongoing conditions. Minerals taken regularly can actually enable the body to heal and recover from various diseases not previously understood to be caused by deficiencies.
Liquid versus capsule is significant. Many mineral supplements contain minerals synthesized in laboratory settings, and those are to be avoided. Liquid is typically sourced from plant-based environments and comes from the earth, which makes the minerals real and easy-to-absorb.
It is important to check labels carefully. In some cases, minerals like calcium are bulky, in which case supplements containing vitamins and minerals may contain minimal amounts of certain ingredients. If you are trying to supplement a specific amount of calcium daily, for example, this is significant. Likewise, you may find other combos requiring that you take additional tablets, capsules, tablets, or powder dissolved in a beverage to obtain the maximum daily requirement (or more) of most nutrients. And still, some products are designed with the needs of specific gender or age – such as children, men, women, pregnant women, or seniors.
It is important to check all supplements you use to determine totals of the nutrients to make certain you are not taking too much of any one nutrient. Some can become toxic over time in large doses. Trace minerals are usually safe as they do not exceed safe amounts. For treating specific deficiencies with certain minerals or other nutrients, consulting a knowledgeable practitioner can be helpful.
One example of a mineral most people are deficient in and need more of is magnesium. In Dr. Carolyn Dean, M.D.’s book, Magnesium Miracle, she discusses why the absence of this mineral in our bodies is the cause of so many chronic health issues including heart disease, high cholesterol, obesity, depression, anxiety, diabetes, premature aging, auto-immune diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and more. Read more about the connection to disease and magnesium deficiency on Dr. Dean’s web site and from her book, The Magnesium Miracle.
