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Hi friends and fellow health advocates!
If the title of this newsletter seems somewhat familiar, it should. I've written about minerals in a couple of my previous newsletters before, but their importance is so.....important :-) that it warrants more in-depth discussion. The information this month is an edited version of an article I've recently written for a national publication.
So, without further ado, let's get into a brief discussion of: Mineral Magic! |
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It's safe to say that most
people in this country have heard the word "minerals" before and know
that they are beneficial when consumed. Their exact meaning and purpose
however, is still a mystery to many. Typically we tend to think of minerals as
little particles of matter in soil or rock and in essence, that description is
correct. But this image does not really represent their beneficial function to
the human body.
As of this writing, there is not a complete list of minerals since they are so
extensive in number. However, there are a known limited number of minerals that
are needed by the body. These "trace" minerals include: zinc, iron,
magnesium, calcium, selenium, and copper to name a few.
Minerals are essential for
all the chemical processes that occur in our bodies in order for them to
function properly. All nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, enzymes, amino
acids, carbohydrates, fats, sugars, oils, etc., require minerals for correct
cell utility. In fact, minerals play a more important role in health than do
vitamins. While vitamins are required for every bodily biochemical process,
they are useless without the presence of minerals. Minerals are also needed for
healing. Tissue rebuilding occurs much easier when the body has access to
necessary minerals.
Minerals are difficult to absorb into the body. Calcium, for instance, must be
taken with vitamins D and C, and essential fatty acids in the proper ratio to
magnesium in order to be digested. Also, one of the reasons that women tend to
be anemic is because of improper digestion of iron, which is necessary for
blood to carry oxygen. Iron is present in every food we eat, according to the
late nutritionist, Adelle Davis. However, because the mineral is difficult to
digest, most iron ingested passes through the body unassimilated.
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In
addition to general limited knowledge regarding the necessity and function of minerals,
there also exists a few mineral misconceptions. One such misconception has to
do with the fear of mineral or metal buildup in the body, which has been
documented to cause various health problems. With all the toxicity-related
disorders and talk about heavy metal accumulation, there's an overlying anxiety
that metals (minerals) are harmful. This is both true and false.
There's
no doubt that the absorption and storage of too many heavy metals such as
mercury, cadmium, lead and others have been proven to be unsafe. Other metals
or minerals such as, beryllium, copper, florine, nickel, silver, and aluminum
also raise red flags. The result of all this negative hype can be an obsession
about avoiding metals in any form.
What
many do not realize is that it's not necessarily the metal itself that is the
problem. Rather, it is the form that determines whether they are harmful
or beneficial. What is important to know is that the previously
mentioned minerals, along with other trace minerals, are actually absolutely
essential for proper health. In fact, we cannot survive without them.
The
difference lies in the distinction between organic trace minerals and metallic
minerals, as well as quantities. Essential trace elements are
"essential" only when used in trace amounts. When used in excess they
can become toxic. However, it is also important to understand that the
consumption of plant derived mineral fulvic complexes, over a period of years, has shown that they will not build
up in the body tissues as do metallic minerals.
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A
good example of the difference between organic trace minerals and metallic
minerals is with the metal Aluminum. Aluminum makes up 12% of the Earth's crust
and is the most abundant metallic element. Even though there are arguments that
a large amount Aluminum in the body may be responsible for cognitive disorders
such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, it's rare that these same arguments
mention the form or benefits of Aluminum.
Aluminum
is a major component in all soils and enters the food chain at every level, be
it plant or animal, and is profitable for health. If natural compounds of organic aluminum were toxic or hazardous to
humans, life as we know it on planet Earth would cease. The known biological
function and thus benefit of Aluminum is to activate the enzyme Succinic
Dehydrogenase. Succinic Dehydrogenase increases survival rates of newborn
infants, and according to professor Gerharkt Schrauzer, head of the department
of chemistry at UCSD, is an essential mineral for human nutrition. Even
arsenic, in trace levels, is an essential element for optimal health and
longevity.
In order to ensure that you are getting all the minerals, vitamins and
nutrients your body needs, it is essential that you supplement with the right
kinds of vitamins and minerals. The best absorption rate for mineral products
comes in a liquid form from live food sources combined with Fulvic Acid. Only in the presence of Fulvic Acid can minerals be properly dissolved and absorbed. Obviously we should be seeking a
supplement that is not processed with heat (heat destroys the viability of
minerals and enzymes), and contains no synthetic chemicals or perservatives of any
kind. Only in this manner can we be certain we are
getting the life-giving minerals our bodies need.
Thank you once again for reading!
Until next month, I remain yours in good health!
Sincerely,
Dr. Mike
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