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• Minerals act as cofactors for enzyme reactions. Enzymes don’t work without minerals. All cells require enzymes to work & function. They give us our vitality. • They maintain the pH balance within the body. • Minerals actually facilitate the transfer of nutrients across cell membranes. • They maintain proper nerve conduction • Minerals help to contract and relax muscles. • They help to regulate our bodies tissue growth. • Minerals provide structural and functional support for the body. There are two categories of minerals essential within the body, macro-minerals & micro-minerals. There is no one mineral deficiency, they all must be maintained in balance within the body. Macro-minerals • Calcium • Phosphorous • Potassium • Magnesium • Sulfur • Sodium • Chloride Micro-minerals (or Trace Minerals) • Iron • Boron • Chromium • Iodine • Manganese • Molybdenum • Selenium • Silicon • Vanadium • Zinc • Lithium • Germanium • Rubidium • Cobalt • Copper Of all of these minerals found in the body, calcium is the main mineral, it comprises almost half of the mineral content in the body. Just 1% of the calcium in the body is actually in the blood, so blood tests are not accurate answers to just how much calcium our body truly has. The other 99% is stored in the bone. In order for calcium to be absorbed and utilized by the body there are several factors to consider. For example, if the overall systemic pH is off, it will be difficult to utilize the calcium you eat. Also, your hormonal function affects your ability to attain the calcium you consume, as well as whether or not you are adequately hydrated or if you digestion is impaired. Calcium also works in tandem with other minerals (particularly magnesium), vitamins and fatty acids. If you are not eating a properly prepared, whole foods, nutrient dense diet, staying hydrated and improving your over all digestion, you could be eating all the calcium in the world and not be able to retain it. Most everyone gets adequate calcium in their diet, but are missing some or all of the above co-factors in their lives to make it of use to the body in the way it is intended. Having appropriate calcium homeostasis plays a significant role in bone remodeling. Old bone tissue is continually being destroyed and broken down and new bone is continually being created. Osteoblasts are bone-forming cells that convert cartilage to bone. Osteocytes are our primary bone cells, and they maintain bone tissue. Osteoclasts are the bone-destroying cells that help with the function in resorption. Calcium is only made available for other tissues in the body when the bone is broken down during remodeling. Bone helps to buffer the pH level of the blood through the release of calcium from the bone. (Bone is a major buffer of calcium and calcium is a major buffer of blood pH.) When blood is too acidic it will pull calcium from the tissues. And when the blood gets too alkaline, calcium can separate out and get deposited into the wrong tissues, thereby causing problems if an excess occurs in those tissues. Calcium is also needed for every nerve impulse. In order for calcium to be absorbed it needs an acidic environment. If there is inadequate hydrochloric acid in the stomach you won’t be able to utilize the calcium you consume. Additionally, zinc is needed to help create the hydrochloric acid. Minerals are more difficult for the body to extract from the food. Absorption from the GI tract is the first step to getting the minerals into circulation, it can be a fairly complex process. If you see any aspect of undigested food in the stool, you can be sure you are not getting your minerals. Anyone with osteoporosis or osteopenia should check the pH of the stomach and check for adequate hydrochloric acid levels. If certain hormones are dysfunctional in the body this will also affect our bodies ability to utilize calcium. Such as parathyroid, thyroid, adrenal and sex hormones. The parathyroid hormone is primary in regulating the blood calcium levels. The mineralcocoritcoids produced by the adrenals are very important in regulating minerals, particularly sodium/potassium homeostasis which has a role in calcium homeostasis as well. Women that go through menopause have a much greater risk of bone loss. Estrogen and progesterone need to be in balance at this time to help with osteoclastic activity. Appropriate fatty acid intake in the diet is necessary for the calcium to be transported through the cells walls. Fatty acids also help increase the calcium levels in the tissues. Weston Price and Royal Lee talked about the relationship between vitamin D and vitamin F (or fatty acids) through their studies. Vitamin D gets the calcium into the blood, fatty acids get it into the tissue. Without appropriate fatty acids you won’t get calcium into your tissues which is where a larger quantity of our body houses calcium. Vitamin D is necessary for calcium homeostasis and bone health. (if supplementing be sure it’s in the form of D3, not D2) Additionally, we need good hydration to ensure that the blood is fluid enough to efficiently transport calcium throughout the body to other tissues. We also need to get balanced electrolytes (electrically charged ions of calcium, sodium, potassium , chloride, bicarbonate) to ensure an appropriate transfer of calcium in and out of the cells. This is only the beginning of understanding how just one mineral works within the body. However, they all work synergistically, so it is very important to consume a high quality real food diet based on the properly prepared foods paradigm discovered by Weston A. Price through his studies of indigenous people groups. We need a full spectrum approach to ensure we are getting adequate mineral intake, not just supplementing with some or one or two individual minerals, hat will always throw off the mineral balance in the body. Be sure to consume a wide array of fresh real whole foods in season and properly prepared. Best Food Sources of Minerals By far the best and most ionic form of a full spectrum of minerals is bone broth. A full spectrum good quality sea salt is also a fabulous way to get in minerals and trace minerals. Also good mineral rich water from wells is a great option, but one that most of us no longer have access to. Animal proteins from well raised animal on pasture and grassfed as well as wild seafood are another great source. Properly prepared nuts, seeds and legumes are excellent as well. Remember to pair these foods with good fatty acids to ensure you are actually utilizing them well. If you are not well versed on which fats are optimal, please read my post here on; ‘What Fats You Should Be Consuming.’ Raw milk dairy products (not pasteurized or homogenized), cultured dairy and cheeses are an excellent source. Pastured eggs are rich in a wide array of nutrients that all synergistically support each other. Dark leafy greens, sea vegetables, oysters, even butter and liver. If you are familiar with the foods recommended in ‘Nourishing Traditions’ and make sure to get a balanced diet from them you are likely getting the minerals your body needs. Just remember that there are cofactors to consider when your body shows signs of deficiencies. What is the importance of Body Balance? Why do I need to know about health supplement minerals? Why can’t we get the minerals from our foods? What is the difference between mineral solutions? What is the challenge with pill/capsule mineral supplements? What happens to colloids if they are not properly absorbed? How can you determine if a mineral is truly water-soluble? Can I ever take too much? Will the minerals react with pharmaceutical medicines? How do I know what I need? What are minerals? Why are minerals important? How do you decide what to use? What is the importance of Body Balance? Your body was designed to be healthy. So often we focus on what is unhealthy in the body – what needs to be fixed. The focus is not on how we can get the body healthy and balanced, but how can we fix the immediate problem. Along with this philosophy is the idea of body balance. Realize that it is when the body goes out of balance that disease sets in. Look at this very simple example: When you work late hours, are over stressed, and eat poorly, most of us get sick or extremely run down. Is this surprising? Absolutely not! What is created? A completely unbalanced situation contributes to ill health. The Vitamist products have been formulated in appropriate balance for your body. An excess or deficiency of any one mineral can throw the body out of its delicate health balance. Why do I need to know about health supplement minerals? We are “living soil.” Our bodies are made primarily of water and minerals. The biological matrix of our bodies requires that we have the proper balance of minerals for appropriate function and electrical conductivity. Why can’t we get the minerals from our foods? The combined factors of nutrient-depleted agricultural soils from centuries of use and synthetic fertilizers forcing crops to grow rapidly with no regard to nutrient absorption, results in foods having very little mineral nutritional value. What is the difference between mineral solutions? We believe the criteria for proper utilization of all minerals is dependent on size and solubility, and their impact on the rate of absorption of the mineral. Colloids are the minerals found in the soil in metallic particle form. When a plant grows in the soil, it absorbs minerals and changes them from colloidal form to ionic/water-soluble form. The body cannot properly use colloids in the form found in the soil. Water-soluble minerals, however, are in the proper bio-available form for use by the human body. Just because a mineral is in a colloidal solution does not ensure it will be absorbed correctly. A colloidal solution consists of a mineral particle that is suspended (not water-soluble) between water molecules. Simply put, it is unhealthy for the body to consume solid (non-soluble), metallic particles. Not only is absorption negatively affected, but proper assimilation into the cells is nearly impossible. What is the challenge with pill/capsule mineral supplements? It is important to note that no matter what the body takes in, its end goal is the same – liquefaction. The challenge with most traditional pill and capsule supplements is their complex state. Due to the manufacturing process of these products, they usually have been processed with intense pressure, heat, paraffin coatings, and fillers. Even colloidal products are not in a pure design. Colloidal products are simply a suspension of small metallic “filings” in water. Due to these properties, these supplements come in a “complex” form for the body to break down. Unfortunately, these states are not the desired form the body wants. For example, you can breathe hydrogen or oxygen, but you can’t breathe water. Although water contains the individual elements of oxygen and hydrogen, they are not in a form the body can use for breathing. The same analogy is true in supplementation. Although a substance may be present in a compound, it does not mean it can be used. In looking to what the body uses and what is found in nature, one finds ionic minerals. In addition, pills and capsules require significant digestion before any type of effective absorption can take place. Due to consumption of foods heavily laden with preservatives, drinking highly acidic beverages such as soda and coffee, exposure to environmental toxins, as well as the normal aging process, the digestive capacity of most individuals is significantly compromised. All together, mineral supplements provided in pill/capsule/tablet form provide fractional benefits to the body at best due to their challenges with both absorption and assimilation in the body. What happens to colloids if they are not properly absorbed? Since colloid particles are far too large for cell assimilation in the body, they will become caught up in the blood stream and subsequently deposited in various parts of the body. Toxic build-up of colloidal minerals (copper, lead, and aluminum, to name a few) is known as heavy-metal poisoning. How can you determine if a mineral is truly water-soluble? After a mineral has been processed and then dehydrated, it should form a crystal rather than a metallic particle. Can I ever take too much? It is important to note that any compound when taken in extreme excess can be unhealthy for the body. For example, even water, when taken in massive quantities, can be harmful. When analyzing the toxicity of a product or material, it is important to recall what contributes to toxicity in the body. These being: 1) The inherent properties of the material ingested 2) The dose of the material 3) The rate of absorption by the body 4) The ability of the material to accumulate in the body 5) The rate and ability of the material to be excreted There cannot be a blanket statement to cover all compounds, or even minerals and vitamins. Each respective ingredient has its own “biochemical uniqueness.” Therefore, the US RDA recommends a suggested maximum amount of various substances to be taken each day. All are independently analyzed before we use them. Second, because our products are bioavailable and water soluble, the dosage amount is less. Finally, because of their water soluble nature, they are easily used and excreted by the body. However, all healthcare products should be taken with care. Any material when taken in extreme excess can be unhealthy for the body. Therefore we suggest to always follow the recommended dosages provided. If you wish to deviate from this, we suggest you do so under the care of a medical professional. As with all ingested materials, more is not always better. Taken in moderation, water-soluble minerals pose little, if any, threat of toxicity. Larger doses of water-soluble mineral products should be taken under the advice of a healthcare professional (specifically, iron is an element which should be taken in small doses unless otherwise advised). Trace Minerals – Everything in Moderation Minerals are essential to life. However, it is important that we follow nature’s blueprint when it comes to the quantity and frequency of mineral use regarding supplements. There are different types of minerals. One classification is Macrominerals. These minerals are found in abundance in the human body. Examples include calcium, magnesium, and potassium. They are plentiful in the human body and it is difficult to take “too” much of these types of minerals. Another grouping of minerals are Trace Minerals. These minerals are also critical to physiologic function, but their quantity in the human body is much less. This is why they are called “Trace” minerals. As such, it is very important to follow nature’s blueprint when supplementing with these minerals. A few examples include selenium, germanium, chromium, manganese, and zinc. Trace minerals do not exist by themselves, but in relationship to one another. Too much of one mineral can lead to deficiencies or imbalances in another, resulting in poor health. Therefore, when it comes to trace mineral supplementation, it is important to keep the body in appropriate mineral balance, and doing so means not overdosing on trace minerals. It is important to note that any substance when taken in extreme excess can be unhealthy for the human body. Even water when taken in massive amounts can produce undesirable side effects in the body—it can even be lethal. Just think of eating a bowl of strawberries—one is good, but ten will give you an awful stomachache! In addition, it is critical that individuals use good common sense and follow recommended dosages on products. The old saying, “if a little is good, a lot must be better,” is definitely not true when it comes to supplements, especially trace minerals. Will the minerals react with pharmaceutical medicines? Traditionally, mineral supplementation has been very safe. However, specific drugs may have specific guidelines for use. It is recommended that before starting any mineral or nutritional program, you check with your healthcare professional for possible interactions. How do I know what I need? Everyone needs a strong foundation of many minerals and vitamins. The best way to discover your specific mineral needs is to reflect upon your lifetime dietary habits and practices. In addition, look at your current health and those specific physical challenges you may be experiencing. What are minerals? Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins are all organic substances. This means they are all compounds of the chemical element carbon. In addition to these nutrients, the human body requires certain chemical elements in their inorganic forms, or not bound to carbon. These elements in their non-organic forms, or all alone, are classified as dietary minerals. These nutrients participate in a multitude of biochemical and physiological processes necessary for the maintenance of good health. Why are minerals important? Minerals are essential to every function within the human body. Minerals and trace elements must exist in relative balance in the fluids, cells, organs, and tissues of the body to contribute to human health. Trace minerals do not function well in the body by themselves, but rather, in relationship to one another. For example, too much of one mineral can lead to imbalances in another. The goal is to achieve mineral balance in the body. How do you decide what to use? The best approach is to start with a detoxifying program. This program provides gentle cleansing and assists with detoxifying the body. The second month, a program more suited to individual health needs can be started. |